Leishmaniasis

Overview

Zinc has medium-strength evidence from four studies for leishmaniasis. Oral zinc sulfate at 2.5 to 10 mg per kilogram body weight daily may help skin lesions heal better after 45 days compared with no treatment. Injecting a 2% zinc sulfate solution into lesions for six weeks may also help.

However, zinc injections do not appear superior to some standard treatments. The heatmap and evidence reviews below offer more detail.

Effect graph

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Zinc	★★★★★	Medium

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Studies

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Consider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeMediumEvidenceMediumTrustHigh

Evidence Review

Taking zinc by mouth or injecting zinc directly into leishmania skin sores may help them heal.
Studies show that taking zinc sulfate by mouth—2.5 to 10 mg per kilogram body weight daily—helps skin lesions heal better after 45 days compared to no treatment.
Injecting a 2% zinc sulfate solution into lesions for 6 weeks may also help.
However, these zinc injections do not work better than some other standard treatments.

Browse 4 studies

RCTIntralesional injection of 2% zinc sulfate solution in the treatment of acute old world cutaneous leishmaniasis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial2005n=36

In acute Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis, weekly intralesional 2% zinc sulfate for 6 weeks achieved complete re-epithelialization in 10.5% of lesions versus 61.3% with meglumine antimoniate.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 6 weeks
Dose: 2% zinc sulfate (intralesional)
Population: Patients
Participants: 36

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RCTComparison of intralesionally injected zinc sulfate with meglumine antimoniate in the treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis2004n=104

In 66 of 104 acute cutaneous leishmaniasis patients completing treatment, intralesional 2% zinc sulfate achieved an 83.8% cure rate versus 60% with meglumine antimoniate over 6 weeks.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 6 weeks
Dose: 2% zinc sulfate (intralesional)
Population: Patients
Participants: 104

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RCTOral zinc sulphate in the treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis2001n=104

In 104 cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, oral zinc sulfate at 2.5–10 mg/kg for 45 days produced cure rates of 83.9% to 96.9% across dose groups versus no healing in untreated controls.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 45 days
Dose: 10 mg/kg
Population: Patients
Participants: 104

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RCTA comparative controlled trial of intralesionally-administered zinc sulphate, hypertonic sodium chloride and pentavalent antimony compound against acute cutaneous leishmaniasis1997n=63

In 63 patients with acute cutaneous leishmaniasis, intralesional 2% zinc sulfate achieved a 94.8% cure rate, often with a single injection, comparable to hypertonic saline and pentavalent antimony over 45 days.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 45 days
Dose: 2% zinc sulfate (intralesional)
Population: Patients
Participants: 63

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Evidence visualised

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Purchase-guidance distribution

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Effect-size distribution

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Study distribution across 1 supplements for leishmaniasis (4 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Zinc	★★★★★64%	4	0	100%

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Overview

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Studies

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