Zinc metabolism and thyroid status.

Urinary zinc excretion was found to be increased in patients with thyrotoxicosis when compared to euthyroid individuals. This increase did not appear to be due to an increase in creatinine clearance and was found to be strongly correlated with an index designed to assess the severity and acuteness of the metabolic response of the body to hyperthyroidism. The potential clinical significance of this finding is discussed.