The role of zinc deficiency in alcohol-associated hepatitis was examined bioinformatically, using large publicly available datasets, and confirmed <i>in vitro</i>.<h4>Results</h4>A nine gene zinc signature consisting primarily of metallothonein genes identified hepatic zinc deficiency among ALD patients that was associated with a down-regulation of the acute phase response pathway (e.g., <i>SAA1, CRP</i> and <i>C9</i> genes). Here, C9 is linked to hepatitis A virus infection.