Effects of zinc supplementation on growth and immune function in children with protein-energy malnutrition

ABSTRACT

The study included 56 malnourished children [32 marsmus and 24 K washirkor] aged 9-24 months, in addition to 16 well nourished healthy children, of comparable age and sex, taken as control. Beside full clinical examination, the study entailed measurements of body weight and height and determinations of hemoglobin concentration, serum albumin, serum zinc, serum immunoglobulions [IgM, IgG, IgA], B and T cells rosette, Lymphoblast transformation index and tuberculin test. In addition to the usual management of protein energy malnutrition, zinc acetate was given orally to every other case in a dose of 2 mg/kg/day of elemental zinc. Anthropometric and laboratory reassessment were done after 60 days of nutritional therapy. Both the zinc supplemented and non supplemented groups showed statistically significant improvement in all the anthropomeric and biochemical studied parameters except for serum zinc after the 60 days of follow up. The improvement of weight and weight/height were significantly better in zinc supplemented than in non supplemented cases. Significant improvement in mean value of T-cell rosette and percentage positive tuberculin reaction was observed only in zinc supplemented cases. Significantly higher frequency of infections especially oral thrush, diarrhea and skin infection were observed in non zinc supplemented group [46.4%, 50% and 39.3% respectively] than in supplemented group [10.7% P < 0.01, 17.8% P < 0.02 and 14.3% P < 0.05 respectively]. In conclusion zinc supplementation of malnourished children proved to be beneficial as it had a significant positive effect on weight gain and improvement of host defense mechanism. Zinc supplementation is recommended for optimal recovery of cases with protein energy malnutrition