Background: Zinc plays an important role in sepsis; however, the effectiveness of zinc supplementation and the appropriate dose remain unclear. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of zinc supplementation and the appropriate dose in patients with sepsis.
Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study included 247 patients with sepsis from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2023 who were receiving ventilatory management. The patients were divided into three groups according to the zinc supplementation dose: <15 mg, 15-50 mg, and ≥50 mg.
Results: The <15 mg, 15-50 mg, and ≥50 mg groups had 28 (19%), six (21%), and 16 deaths (22%) at discharge, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.36). No statistically significant differences were observed in the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (p = 0.06). A higher supplementation dose corresponded with a statistically significant increase in blood zinc concentration in the first week (38.5 ± 16.6 µg/dL, 58.8 ± 19.7 µg/dL, 74.2 ± 22.5 µg/dL, respectively; p < 0.01) but not in the second or third weeks (p = 0.08, 0.19, respectively).
Conclusions: Zinc supplementation did not reduce the mortality rate or length of ICU stay or contribute to an increased serum zinc concentration. High-dose zinc supplementation may not be effective during acute sepsis.
Keywords: intensive care; nutrition therapy; sepsis; trace elements; zinc.