Genetic Study of Severe Zinc Deficiencies (GENEZINC)

June 23, 2026 updated by: Nantes University Hospital

Genetic Study Explanatory Severe Zinc Deficiencies : Multicenter, Genetics, Controlled and Prospective Study

Given the structural essential, catalytic and co-catalytic played by zinc in many sections of protein metabolism, carbohydrate and lipid (zinc is involved in the function of more than 300 metalloenzymes and metalloproteins), one can imagine the impact of a deficiency or even a sub-chronic zinc deficiency on the health of the individual. Studies multiply that show that, long-term, marginal zinc deficiency is a risk factor for the development of cancer or neurodegenerative complex diseases (eg Alzheimer's disease). In addition, the short-term zinc deficiencies foster the development of skin conditions and susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. The aim of this project is to identify, in the population of patients with pseudo-acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) tested in the investigators laboratory, rare variants (mutations "real" epimutations or polymorphisms) located in solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) gene or in 55 other genes chosen for their role in zinc homeostasis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
96

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • France
      • Nantes, France, 44093
        • CHU de Nantes

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The investigators had therefore selected 96 individuals for the project. They correspond either to the patients themselves (ie the index case tested in the laboratory) or to mothers and / or fathers of patients who accompany their child consultation. For each of them, the analysis will focus on the genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and is stored in the sample bank of DNA laboratory. Note that twenty patients seen by our collaborator neurologist, Prof. Vincent Ramaekers (Belgium) are a subgroup separately in our study, since all have autistic disorders responsive to the zinc, in addition to zinc deficiency. By studying these patients in particular clinical picture, we already approach the possible consequences of zinc deficiency on complex diseases.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are included all patients (minors included) with suggestive symptoms and biological signs of a hereditary deficiency of zinc, appeared for the first time at birth or weaning (see description given in the introduction);
  • Clinical diagnosis of zinc deficiency must be made by a specialist dermatologist, pediatrician or gastroenterologist;
  • Zinc deficiency has been audited by an assay of serum zinc, erythrocyte, plasma, urine or hair;
  • The response of all symptoms and signs to zinc oral supplementation should be rapid and complete.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • All patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC39A4 gene are excluded because they have a proven acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE);
  • All patients who developed their first symptoms of zinc deficiency outside the neonatal period, most likely because they have an acquired deficiency and not congenital;
  • All patients with probable cause of zinc deficiency that is surgery of the digestive tract, chronic digestive disease, or total parenteral nutrition.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Family-Based
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Homozygous mutations in the SLC39A4 gene
Time Frame: at 3 years
at 3 years
heterozygous mutations in the SLC39A4 gene
Time Frame: at 3 years
at 3 years
deleterious variants in 55 zinc homeostasis genes in patient
Time Frame: at 3 years
at 3 years
deleterious variants in 55 zinc homeostasis genes in patient's parents
Time Frame: at 3 years
at 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Nantes University Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Stephane BEZIEAU, PU-PH, Nantes university hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 12, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 16, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 17, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RC12_0193

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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