PLASMA ZINC AND JEJUNAL MUCOSAL ZINC IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

The plasma Zn in gastric carcinoma and in other malignancy requiring surgical treatment was significantly higher than in patients with nonmalignant disease but there was no difference between the gastric carcinoma and other malignancy levels. The jejunal mucosal Zn levels showed similar results with gastric carcinoma and other malignancy requiring surgery being higher than nonmalignant disease with no difference between them. It was not possible to correlate plasma and jejunal mucosal Zn levels overall. This increased level of body Zn did not appear to be specific to gastric carcinoma and may have been associated with nonspecific mucin changes.