Background: Inflammation, reflected by increased levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), is common in dialysis patients. Inflammation is the major cause of mortality in these patients. This study was carried out to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on inflammatory marker CRP in hemodialysis patients.

Materials & Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded, and controlled clinical trial, 60 zinc deficient (<70µg/dl) hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into two groups. Zinc supplementation group (n=30) received a 220 mg zinc sulfate capsule and control group (n=30) received a placebo capsule (220 mg cornstarch). The patients received one capsule daily for 6 weeks. Fasting predialysis serum samples were collected at the beginning and after 6^th week to determine serum zinc and CRP levels. Data were analyzed using t-test.

Results: Serum zinc concentration in zinc-supplemented group showed significant increase from 57.4±2.43µg/dl to 88.41±4.81µg/dl (P<0.001). Serum CRP concentration decreased from 13.55±3.8 mg/l to 10.56±3.5 mg/l at the 6^th week in zinc-supplemented group which was not significant. The difference between serum CRP concentration in the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Zinc supplementation intake may cause an increase in serum zinc leading to decreases in inflammation of hemodialysis patients.