effect of zinc and iron supplementation on the status of iron and zinc in the primary schoolchildren

ABSTRACT

The micronutrient deficiency is an important health problem around the world. Among the micronutrients, iron and zinc deficiencies are the most common. The aim of this study was to find the effects of iron and zinc supplementation, alone or combined, on iron and zinc status of the primary school children. The study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which 81 primary schoolchildren of 11 years old were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 were supplemented with iron [20 mg/d], group 2 with zinc [20 mg/d] and group 3 with iron plus zinc [20 mg/d of each] for 4 months. At the beginning and at the end of this intervention, using cell counter, radioimmunoassay, and atomic absorption, hemoglobin plasma ferritin and serum zinc, the children, were measured. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, paired t test, Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Our results showed that using either iron or zinc alone and using both of them together significantly increased the serum zinc level to 4.5 +/- 2.1, 4.5 +/- 2.7 and 3.6 +/- micromole per liter, respectively. Among the 3 groups studied, zinc supplementation had the most benefit for the children who suffered from zinc deficiency [p<0.01]. Using iron complementation alone, resulted in an increase in serum ferritin, while using zinc alone, led to a decrease in plasma ferritin [p<0.01]. Both iron and zinc supplementation and the combination of them had no significant impact on blood hemoglobin. Supplementation with either iron or zinc, would improve serum zinc and plasma ferritin