回顾性研究表明，锌与老年人吞咽功能的改善有关。

Retrospective study revealed that Zn relate to improvement of swallowing function in the older adults.

机构信息

Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Vascular Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan.

Minamisanriku Hospital, 14-3, Numata Shizugawa Minamisanrikucho, Motoyoshigun, 986-0782, Miyagi, Japan.

出版信息

BMC Geriatr. 2021 Apr 26;21(1):279. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02224-8.

DOI:10.1186/s12877-021-02224-8

PMID:33902471

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8075009/

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for maintaining biological activity. The level of zinc in the blood is known to decrease with age, especially in those over 75 years of age. In older adults patients with impaired functional status, aspiration pneumonia based on dysphagia often becomes problematic. However, the relationship between zinc deficiency and swallowing function has not been studied before.

METHODS

A total of 52 older adults subjects (15 males and 37 females) living in a nursing home were enrolled for this study. At the time of enrollment, data of gender, age, body weight, serum zinc levels, serum albumin levels, and the time in a simple 2-step swallowing provocation test (S-SPT) were collected. In patients with serum zinc levels < 60 μg/dL, we initiated 2 months of oral zinc supplementation therapy with a 34 mg/day zinc load. Those who underwent zinc supplementation were re-evaluated after the treatment period and serum zinc levels and S-SPT time were measured.

RESULTS

At the time of enrollment, serum zinc level was significantly correlated with serum albumin levels (Pearson's R = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (Spearman's rho = - 0.32, p = 0.0219). Twenty-five of the 52 patients had zinc deficiency with a serum zinc level < 60 μg/dL. After 2 months of oral zinc supplementation, both serum zinc levels (p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (p = 0.04) significantly improved. Meanwhile, serum albumin level (p = 0.48) or body weight (p = 0.07) did not significantly change following zinc supplementation. Zinc supplementation significantly improved swallowing function, especially in the older adults who had comorbid dysphagia and zinc deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Zinc deficiency is associated with compromised swallowing function in older adults patients with impaired general functions. Oral zinc supplementation can alleviate dysphagia in older adults patients with zinc deficiency even though this is a retrospective study. Further study will be needed to confirm this positive effect.

摘要

背景

锌是维持生物活性的必需微量元素。已知血液中的锌水平会随着年龄的增长而降低，尤其是 75 岁以上的人群。在功能状态受损的老年患者中，基于吞咽困难的吸入性肺炎常常成为问题。然而，锌缺乏症与吞咽功能之间的关系尚未得到研究。

方法

本研究共纳入了 52 名居住在养老院的老年患者（男性 15 名，女性 37 名）。在入组时，收集了性别、年龄、体重、血清锌水平、血清白蛋白水平以及简单的两步吞咽激发试验（S-SPT）时间等数据。对于血清锌水平<60μg/dL 的患者，我们开始进行为期 2 个月的口服锌补充治疗，锌负荷量为 34mg/天。接受锌补充治疗的患者在治疗结束后进行重新评估，并测量血清锌水平和 S-SPT 时间。

结果

入组时，血清锌水平与血清白蛋白水平呈显著正相关（Pearson's R=0.58，p<0.0001），与 S-SPT 时间呈显著负相关（Spearman's rho=-0.32，p=0.0219）。52 名患者中有 25 名存在血清锌水平<60μg/dL 的锌缺乏症。经过 2 个月的口服锌补充治疗后，血清锌水平（p<0.0001）和 S-SPT 时间（p=0.04）均显著改善。同时，血清白蛋白水平（p=0.48）或体重（p=0.07）在补锌后没有显著变化。锌补充显著改善了吞咽功能，尤其是在同时存在合并性吞咽困难和锌缺乏症的老年患者中。