ABSTRACT

A decrease may occur in the levels of trace elements due to absorption deficiency resulting from giardiosis. This study was designed in order to reveal the difference in serum zinc levels between patients with giardiosis and healthy controls. Thirty one patients who were diagnosed as having giardiosis after detection of G. intestinalis and 31 healthy controls participated in the study. A significant decrease was observed in serum zinc levels of patients with giardiosis compared to those of controls (p<0.0001). In conclusion, we suggest that parasitic diseases should also kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of cases characterized by low serum zinc levels.

Keywords: Giardiosis, zinc