Zinc deficiency in Hodgkin's disease

Serum, plasma, RBC and hair zinc concentrations were measured in children with Hodgkin's disease at diagnosis and during remission. Zinc values in all the measured compartments were found to be significantly low before treatment while serum, and plasma zinc levels returned to normal or above normal values during remission. Our results indicate that chronic zinc deficiency exists at diagnosis in Pediatric Hodgkin's disease in Turkey. In view of the recent observations indicating a close relationship between thymus and zinc, following hypothesis was speculated; a preexisting nutritional zinc deficiency commonly found in Turkey may prepare a milieu favouring development of Hodgkin's disease by causing the suppression of thymus dependant cellular immunity.