that sparked an interesting little bit of searching on esr, inflammation, and why that might be the case:
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), zeta-sedimentation rate (ZSR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in a variety of diseases. These indicators may help differentiate the
anemia of chronic disease [JL note: ie from inflammation] from iron deficiency, so that iron deficiency is not overestimated in hospitalized and aged populations...
Total plasma zinc levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on different therapeutic treatments were determined in conjunction with total serum proteins, serum albumin and globulin, and articular index of joint tenderness,
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, serum copper, and serum iron... Zinc levels correlated positively with serum albumin, and there was an
inverse correlation between zinc levels and both
ESR ... The results of this study support the hypothesis that
low plasma zinc level in rheumatoid arthritis is one of the nonspecific features of
inflammation.
wikipedia: C-reactive protein was originally discovered by Tillett and Francis in 1930 as a substance in the serum of patients with acute inflammation...
CRP is a member of the class of acute-phase reactants as its
levels rise dramatically during inflammatory processes occurring in the body. This increment is
due to a rise in the plasma concentration of IL-6, which is produced predominantly by macrophages as well as adipocytes.
Depletion of intracellular zinc increases expression of tumorigenic cytokines VEGF,
IL-6 and IL-8 in prostate cancer cells via NF-B-dependent pathway
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour ... 1&SRETRY=0