-transparent.png){kind=logo}
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of oral zinc supplementation on: (i) plasma zinc concentrations; (ii) platelet membrane microviscosity in vivo; and (iii) cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. METHODS An open-labelled pilot study. METHODS University of Stellenbosch Medical School and Stikland Hospital. METHODS Six volunteer AD patients. METHODS Plasma zinc levels, platelet membrane microviscosity and cognition (MMSE and ADAS-cog tests). RESULTS Oral zinc supplementation (30 mg/day) did not increase plasma zinc levels significantly, but significantly increased platelet membrane microviscosity (P = 0.02; 6 patients). Four patients, who underwent 12 months of evaluation, showed modest cognitive improvement on psychometric testing (Mini-Mental State Examination and the cognitive portion of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment scale scores). CONCLUSIONS While earlier literature promoted the use of zinc in AD patients, a recent study has contradicted this and implicated zinc in the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease. On the basis of the above results, it may be premature to single out zinc as a causal agent in AD.
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
November 1976,
Biochemistry,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
January 1984,
Psychopharmacology,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
March 1991,
Clinical science (London, England : 1979),
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
January 1996,
Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
March 1994,
American journal of hypertension,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
August 1987,
Annals of neurology,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
January 2012,
BioFactors (Oxford, England),
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
January 1989,
Biofizika,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
June 1990,
Biochimica et biophysica acta,
F C Potocnik, and
S J van Rensburg, and
C Park, and
J J Taljaard, and
R A Emsley
January 1994,
Patologicheskaia fiziologiia i eksperimental'naia terapiia,
