American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 57, 673-678, Copyright © 1993 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

The effect of zinc supplementation on parasitic reinfestation of Guatemalan schoolchildren

CF Grazioso, M Isalgue, I de Ramirez, M Ruz and NW Solomons
Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, National Committee for the Blind and Deaf, Guatemala City, Guatemala.

One hundred thirty children (65-95 mo old) from a low-socioeconomic neighborhood of Guatemala City participated in a randomized, double- blind, controlled trial of zinc supplementation. One group received 10 mg Zn/d (n = 65) and the other group received a placebo (n = 65); 90 +/- 9.2 doses were given over 120-150 d. Stools were examined for prevalence and intensity of helminths and prevalence of protozoa at the beginning and end of the study. The initial prevalence was 42% for helminths and 18% for protozoa, with no differences between groups. Mebendazole was administered to all children, and protozoal infections were treated specifically at the beginning of the study. The reinfection rates were 17% (11 of 65) for helminths and 12.3% (8 of 65) for protozoa in the zinc group and 15% (10 of 65) and 10.7% (7 of 65), respectively, in the placebo group (P > 0.05). Analysis by specific parasites revealed no treatment effect. We conclude that neither plasma or hair zinc status nor oral zinc supplementation had an effect on parasite status in children.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. E. Scott and K. G. Koski Zinc Deficiency Impairs Immune Responses against Parasitic Nematode Infections at Intestinal and Systemic Sites J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1412S - 1420. [Abstract] [Full Text]