| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION |
1 From the Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Perú (MEP, RMM, AD, and CFL); the Program in International Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis (JMP, BL, and KHB); and the Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore (REB)
Background: Zinc supplements reduce childhood morbidity in populations in whom zinc deficiency is common. In such populations, deficiencies in other micronutrients may also occur.
Objective: The objective was to determine whether the administration of other micronutrients with zinc modifies the effect of zinc supplementation on children’s morbidity and physical growth.
Design: Two hundred forty-six children aged 6-35 mo with persistent diarrhea were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups to receive a daily supplement of 10 mg Zn alone (Zn; n = 81), zinc plus vitamins and other minerals at 1-2 times recommended daily intakes (Zn+VM; n = 82), or placebo (n = 83) for 
6 mo after the diarrhea episode ended. Morbidity information was collected on weekdays. Weight, length, and other anthropometric indicators were measured monthly, and plasma zinc and other indicators of micronutrient status were measured at baseline and 6 mo.
Results: Supplement consumption was high (90%) in all groups, although slightly more vomiting was reported in the Zn+VM group (P < 0.0001, analysis of variance). The change in plasma zinc from baseline to 6 mo was greater in the 2 zinc groups (6.1, 27.3, and 16.2 µg/dL in the placebo, Zn, and Zn+VM groups, respectively; P < 0.0001, analysis of variance). The Zn group had fewer episodes of diarrhea, dysentery, and respiratory illness and a lower prevalence of fever and cough than did the Zn+VM group and a lower prevalence of cough than did the placebo group (P = 0.05). No significant effects of supplementation on growth were observed.
Conclusion: Morbidity was greater after supplementation with zinc plus multivitamins and minerals than it was after supplementation with zinc alone.
Key Words: Zinc supplementation • zinc deficiency • diarrhea • respiratory infection • growth
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. L Iannotti, N. Zavaleta, Z. Leon, A. H Shankar, and L. E Caulfield Maternal zinc supplementation and growth in Peruvian infants Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2008; 88(1): 154 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Aggarwal, J. Sentz, and M. A. Miller Role of Zinc Administration in Prevention of Childhood Diarrhea and Respiratory Illnesses: A Meta-analysis Pediatrics, June 1, 2007; 119(6): 1120 - 1130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Z. A Bhutta Iron and zinc deficiency in children in developing countries BMJ, January 20, 2007; 334(7585): 104 - 105. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Sazawal, U. Dhingra, P. Dhingra, G. Hiremath, J. Kumar, A. Sarkar, V. P Menon, and R. E Black Effects of fortified milk on morbidity in young children in north India: community based, randomised, double masked placebo controlled trial BMJ, January 20, 2007; 334(7585): 140 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Shamir, I. R. Makhoul, A. Etzioni, and N. Shehadeh Evaluation of a Diet Containing Probiotics and Zinc for the Treatment of Mild Diarrheal Illness in Children Younger Than One Year of Age J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2005; 24(5): 370 - 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. F. Walker, K. Kordas, R. J Stoltzfus, and R. E Black Interactive effects of iron and zinc on biochemical and functional outcomes in supplementation trials Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2005; 82(1): 5 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Lopez de Romana, S. Cusirramos, D. Lopez de Romana, and R. Gross Efficacy of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation for Improving Anemia, Micronutrient Status, Growth, and Morbidity of Peruvian Infants J. Nutr., March 1, 2005; 135(3): 646S - 652S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. J Walden Supplementation with zinc and other minerals Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 1084 - 1084. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E Penny, R. E Black, K. H Brown, and B. Lonnerdal Reply to RJ Walden Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 1084 - 1085. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
