ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Zinc deficiency is common in children among populations in developing areas. Zinc deficiency alters the immune system and the resistance to infections. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of two zinc compounds in the prevention of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized triple-blind community trial with 301 children between 2-5 years of age from six child daycare centers in Medellin, Colombia. Children were distributed in three groups receiving zinc amino acid chelate, zinc sulfate and placebo five days a week for 16 weeks. Daily symptoms of respiratory infection, acute diarrhea and side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of respiratory infection was lower with zinc amino acid chelate (1.42 per 1,000 child-days) compared with placebo (3.3 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.196 to 0.950, p=0.049) and with zinc sulfate (1.57 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.90, 95% CI 0.382 to 2.153, p=0.999). The incidence of acute diarrhea with zinc amino acid chelate (0.15 per 1,000 child-days) was lower than with placebo (0.49 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.32, 95% CI 0.006 to 3.990, p=0.346) and with zinc sulfate (0.78 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.0043 to 1.662, p=0.361). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc amino acid chelate had a better effect in reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea in preschool children when compared with the other groups.
Subject(s)
Chelating Agents/therapeutic use , Deficiency Diseases/complications , Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/prevention & control , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/prevention & control , Zinc Compounds/therapeutic use , Zinc Sulfate/therapeutic use , Zinc/deficiency , Child Day Care Centers , Child, Preschool , Diarrhea/etiology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Respiratory Tract Infections/etiologyABSTRACT
Introducción. El déficit de zinc es común en niños de poblaciones en desarrollo. La deficiencia de zinc altera el sistema inmunológico y la resistencia a las infecciones. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de dos compuestos de zinc en la prevención de la infección respiratoria y la diarrea agudas. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un ensayo comunitario triple ciego en 301 niños entre dos y cinco años de edad de centros infantiles de Medellín. Fueron seis conglomerados distribuidos aleatoriamente en tres grupos de intervención que recibieron zinc aminoquelado, sulfato de zinc y placebo durante cinco días de la semana a lo largo de 16 semanas. Se evaluaron diariamente los síntomas de infección respiratoria, diarrea aguda y efectos secundarios. Resultados. La incidencia de la infección respiratoria fue menor con el zinc aminoquelado (1,42 por 1.000 días-niño) comparado con el sulfato de zinc (1,57 por 1.000 días-niño) (RR=0,90, IC 95% : 0,382 a 2,153 , p=0,999) y con el placebo (3,3 por 1.000 días-niño) ( RR=0,43, IC 95% : 0,196 a 0,950 , p=0,049). La incidencia de diarrea aguda con el zinc aminoquelado (0,15 por 1.000 días-niño) fue menor que con el sulfato de zinc (1,18 0,78 por 1.000 días-niño) (RR=0,20, IC 95% : 0,0043 a 1,662, p=0,361) y que la del grupo placebo (0,49 por 1.000 días-niño) (RR=0,32, IC 95% : 0,006 a 3,990 , p=0,346). Conclusiones. El zinc aminoquelado tuvo mejor efecto en la disminución de la incidencia de la infección respiratoria y la diarrea agudas en niños preescolares comparado con los otros grupos de estudio.
Introduction: Zinc deficiency is common in children among populations in developing areas. Zinc deficiency alters the immune system and the resistance to infections. Objective: To evaluate the effect of two zinc compounds in the prevention of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea. Materials and methods: Randomized triple-blind community trial with 301 children between 2-5 years of age from six child daycare centers in Medellin, Colombia. Children were distributed in three groups receiving zinc amino acid chelate, zinc sulfate and placebo five days a week for 16 weeks. Daily symptoms of respiratory infection, acute diarrhea and side effects were evaluated. Results: The incidence of respiratory infection was lower with zinc amino acid chelate (1.42 per 1,000 child-days) compared with placebo (3.3 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.196 to 0.950, p=0.049) and with zinc sulfate (1.57 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.90, 95% CI 0.382 to 2.153, p=0.999). The incidence of acute diarrhea with zinc amino acid chelate (0.15 per 1,000 child-days) was lower than with placebo (0.49 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.32, 95% CI 0.006 to 3.990, p=0.346) and with zinc sulfate (0.78 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.0043 to 1.662, p=0.361). Conclusions: Zinc amino acid chelate had a better effect in reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea in preschool children when compared with the other groups.