The Impact of Zinc Supplementation on Innate Immunity and Patient Safety in Sepsis

Inclusion Criteria: * Admitted to an Ohio State University Medical Center medical Intensive Care Unit * ≥ 18 years * Have consensus criteria for severe sepsis (two of four systemic inflammatory response syndrome \[SIRS\] signs \[tachycardia, tachypnea, fever or hypothermia, leukocytosis or leukopenia\]) and a known or suspected infection resulting in an organ failure (i.e. respiratory failure, renal failure, etc.) * Patient must consent to enrollment within 36 hours of a new episode of sepsis and be able to receive supplementation within 12 hours of enrollment but not to exceed 36 hours since sepsis onset to be eligible. Exclusion Criteria: * Consent not available or declined, * Prisoner, Women who are pregnant or lactating * Chemotherapy within past 4 weeks or Absolute Neutrophil Count\<500 * AIDS defining illness or Cluster of Differentiation 4 \< 200 * Acute Pancreatitis or amylase/lipase \> 2x normal * Small Bowel Obstruction or GI condition preventing enteral route of feeding * C.difficile colitis or active diarrhea * Active vomiting or current use of Total Parenteral Nutrition within past 30 days * Predicted ICU length of stay \< 72 hours or moribund * End Stage Renal Disease on chronic intermittent dialysis * Previously enrolled in this zinc supplementation study or currently enrolled in another nutritional supplementation trial.