Table 1 Characteristics of trials included in this systematic review and meta-analysis
Characteristic | Reding[10] | Bresci[11] | Hayashi[16] | Takuma[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Brussels, Belgium | Pisa, Italy | Osaka, Japan | Okayama, Japan |
Study | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | Randomized, not blinded, placebo-controlled trial |
Patients (n) | 22 | 90 | 45 | 79 |
Sex (male/female) | 15/7 | 56/34 | 23/17 | 40/39 |
Age (y) (placebo/zinc)* | 52.7 ± 13.4/52.1 ± 9.9 | 49 ± 9/51 ± 9 | 65.1 ± 11.3/66.0 ± 9.9 | 66.5 ± 7.4/66.5 ± 5.7 |
Cause of cirrhosis (viral/alcoholic/other) | ND | 50/30/10 | 38/0/2 | 58/13/8 |
Child–Pugh classification (A/B/C) | 2/17/3 | 0/65/25 | ND 1 | 15/49/15 |
Hepatic encephalopathy grade (1/2) | 22/0 | 90/0 | ND 1 | 49/30 |
Baseline serum zinc levels (μg/dL) [placebo/zinc]* | 60.3 ± 17.9/64.5 ± 21 | 52 ± 5/56 ± 6 | 60.2 ± 9/58.4 ± 9.2 | 51.6 ± 13.3/48.9 ± 9.3 |
Baseline NCT (placebo/zinc) | 56.2 ± 25.4/55.5 ± 18.9 | 62 ± 10/66 ± 9 | ND | A: 72.6 ± 30.5/78.8 ± 27 B: 141.6 ± 31.3/145.8 ± 30.4 |
Intervention | Zinc acetate 600 mg/d for 7 d | Zinc acetate 600 mg/d for 6 mo | Zinc sulfate 600 mg/d (blood zinc level <7.6 mol/L) and 200 mg/d (blood zinc level 7.6–10.37 mol/L) | Polaprezinc 225 mg (containing 51 mg of zinc and 174 mg of l-carnosine)/d for 6 mo |
Comparison | Placebo | Standard therapy | Branched-chain amino acids | Standard therapy |
Outcome reported | Effect of oral zinc on HE | Effect of oral zinc on HE | Effect of oral zinc in patients with hepatic cirrhosis | Effect of oral zinc on HRQOL and HE in patients with liver cirrhosis |