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Jun 9, 2017Article Details
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Main Article Content
Zinc and platelet membrane microviscosity in Alzheimer's disease: The <i>in vivo</i> effect of zinc on platelet membranes and cognition
Abstract
Objectives. 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.
Design. An open-labelled pilot study.
Setting. University of Stellenbosch Medical School and Stikland Hospital.
Subjects. Six volunteer AD patients.
Outcome measures. 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 signfficantly increased platelet membrane microviscosity (P = 0.02; 6 patients). Four patients. who underwent 12 months of evaluation, showed modest cognitive improvement on psychomebic 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 resutts, it may be premature to single out zinc as a causal agent in AD.
