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Fig. 3 | BMC Geriatrics

Fig. 3

From: Retrospective study revealed that Zn relate to improvement of swallowing function in the older adults

Fig. 3

Changes in serum zinc and the S-SPT after oral zinc supplementation. Abbreviations: S-SPT, simple 2-step swallowing provocation test; suppl., supplementation. a The serum zinc level was significantly increased, with an initial mean and standard deviation of 49.4 ± 7.6 vs 79.9 ± 17.5 μg/dL post-treatment (p < 0.0001, paired t-test). b The S-SPT time was also significantly improved, with an initial median and interquartile range (IQR) of 7.32 [4.12–32.0] vs 4.28 [2.74–8.59] seconds post-treatment (p = 0.0420, Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test). c Although several patients showed both improved zinc levels and improved S-SPT time simultaneously, these two changes failed to show a statistical significance in combination (Spearman’s rho = 0.13; p = 0.576, test of no correlation)

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