薬理と治療

Abstract

Background Zinc has been reported to stimulate bone metabolism and prevent progression of hepatic fibrosis. We administered polaprezinc, a preparation containing zinc, to patients with liver cirrhosis, for the purpose of evaluating the effects of zinc on hepatic fibrosis and bone loss. Method Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to receive polaprezinc（P−group）, and 18 were assigned to receive rebamipide（R−group）. Patients were evaluated at entry, 1 year and 2 years after the initiation of the treatment. Results The mean percent change in bone mineral density（BMD）was＋1.05％ in the Pgroup and＋0.09％ in the R−group after 1 year of treatment, and＋0.11％ in the P−group and−0.87％ in the R−group after 2 years of treatment, but the difference between the groups was not significant. The mean percent of serum zinc in the P−group was significantly higher than that in the R−group at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after treatment. The mean percent of serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase in the P−group was significantly higher than that in R−group at 1 year after treatment. The mean percent of serum osteocalcin in the P−group was significantly higher than that in the R−group at 1 year and 2 years after treatment. The mean percent of serum markers for hepatic fibrosis in the P−group and those in R−group did not show significant differences during treatment. Conclusions These results suggest that zinc replenishment in patients with liver cirrhosis can prevent progression of hepatic bone mineral loss. （Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2008；36：633−40）KEY WORDS Zinc, Liver cirrhosis, Hepatic fibrosis, Osteocalcin, Bone mineral density