By Jimmy Downs

Friday Jan 25, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Bangladesh Journal of Medical Biochemistry  suggests that taking zinc supplements or eating zinc rich foods may help prevent cirrhosis of the liver.

F. Atia from Dhaka Medical College and colleagues compared 50 adults who were hospitalized to treat hepatic cirrhosis and 50 healthy males and females for the fasting level of serum zinc and found patients had about 26% lower zinc in their blood, compared with healthy people.

Zinc is an element that plays an important role in the function of the liver and cirrhosis is an outcome of chronic liver diseases, according to the authors.

The researchers found 72 % patients had lower serum zinc, compared with healthy people.

Although the study could not demonstrate that low levels of serum zinc is the cause for hepatic cirrhosis, cirrhotic patients may be better off taking zinc supplements or eating foods that contain high amounts of zinc such as seafood.  

Drinking alcohol and suffering hepatitis B can increase risk of hepatic cirrhosis, which may lead to the development of liver cancer.