Oral zinc sulphate in rheumatoid arthritis

Simkin PA · Lancet

In the 12-week double-blind phase, zinc-treated patients fared better than controls on joint swelling, morning stiffness, walking time and self-rated disease activity — the preliminary positive result that launched the zinc-for-arthritis question.

Population

Patients with chronic, refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Intervention

Zinc sulphate 220 mg three times daily added to existing therapy for 12 weeks, then a 12-week open phase

Comparator

Identical placebo capsules (double-blind phase)

Limitations

n=24, 12 weeks, largely subjective endpoints, described by its own author as preliminary; two subsequent trials failed to confirm it; full text paywalled — appraised from the paper's published summary.