Discussion
gastrointestinal tract function, anxiety, abdominal pain, MH, vomiting, constipation, opioid use disorder, malnutrition, depression, anorexia
INFLAMMATION, MALNUTRITION, ZINC DEFICIENCY, OXIDATIVE STRESS, GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE, ANOREXIA, COMPLICATIONS
This study aimed to investigate the effect of zinc supplementation on the PoR and MH in patients with opioid use disorder undergoing MMT, wherein the results indicated that zinc supplementation could reduce the PoR and improve the MH status in such individuals. As no studies had so far assessed the effect of zinc supplements on the PoR and MH among patients with opioid use disorder going through MMT, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the results of the present study were reviewed based on the research outcomes in other populations and groups.In this line, previous research had reported that the complications of opioid analgesics use, such as anorexia, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, vomiting, and abdominal pain, could affect the gastrointestinal tract function and induce malnutrition as well as the deficiency of various minerals in the body, including zinc [Moreover, zinc deficiency is able to have a significant effect on other mechanisms involved in relapses and even be associated with depression and anxiety [The related literature also shows that a large number of patients with opioid use disorder subjected to MMT suffer from MH conditions, especially depression and anxiety [Even if the possible biological mechanisms that help improve MH (mainly the symptoms of depression and anxiety) via zinc supplementation are not yet fully understood, previous research has shown that zinc regulates neurotransmission, neurogenesis, the endocrine system, inflammation, and oxidative stress in signaling pathways is of utmost importance [