Zinc deficiency is very common in liver disease; supplementation with oral zinc is associated with improvement in what?

• A. Ammonia production
• B. Albumin synthesis
• C. Amino acid metabolism and encephalopathy
• D. Fat oxidation

Answer: (C)

Zinc acts as a vital cofactor for enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism and for enzymes of the urea cycle that detoxify ammonia. In liver disease, zinc deficiency can impair these pathways, leading to disrupted amino acid balance and hepatic encephalopathy from ammonia buildup. Providing zinc helps restore enzyme activity, improves ammonia clearance, and thus improves both amino acid metabolism and encephalopathy. It doesn’t primarily affect ammonia production, albumin synthesis, or fat oxidation.