Effect of zinc sulphate on peptic ulcer disease

In-vitro study, the effect of zinc sulfate on healing ulcers is being shown but it is a limited study which has been done to demonstrate the effect of zinc sulfate on peptic ulcer in human. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on healing peptic ulcer disease. This was a double blind randomized clinical trial in which patients who were referred to endoscopy clinic in Sanandaj Besat hospital were included. Patients were allocated to intervention group [n=46] and control group [n=58] at random. All patients received standard treatment for ulcer containing Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Omeprazole and Bismuth. For intervention group one zinc sulfate capsule [220 mg] was added to treatment regimen [one capsule on alternate day]. After four weeks, endoscopy was repeated again. The data was analyzed by SPSS software and x[2] Fisher exact and T test were used for analysis. There was no difference between intervention and control group in the same factors like smoking, alcohol, NSAID drugs consumption and the size of ulcer. Mean size of ulcers in intervention and control group before treatment were 24.6 [ +/- 17.7]mm and 22.5 [ +/- 21.2]mm respectively. The mean percentage size reductions of ulcer in intervention and control group after treatment were 92 [ +/- 14] percent and 89.4 [ +/- 16.4] percent which did not illustrate significant difference in two groups. This study confirms that zinc sulfate with the dosage of 220 mg on alternate days doesn't have significant effect on peptic ulcer healing. More studies with higher doses needs to be undertaken to determine effective dose of zinc