Effects of zinc supplementation on physical growth in 2-5-year-old children.

Physical growth disorders in under 5-year-old children are a common health problem in many countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine effects of supplemental zinc on physical growth in preschool children with retarded linear growth. This study was a community-based randomized controlled trial on 2-5-year-old children with height-for-age below 25th percentile of National Center for Health Statistics growth chart. Ninety children were randomly assigned in zinc group (ZG) or placebo group (PG). After 6 months of zinc or placebo supplementation, we followed up the children for another 6 months. Anthropometric indicators were measured before the intervention and then monthly for 11 months. Forty children in ZG and 45 in PG concluded the study. Zinc supplementation increased weight gain in boys (P = 0.04) and girls (P = 0.05) compared to placebo but had no significant effect on mid-upper arm circumference increment in either sexes. The most significant (P = 0.001) effect of Zinc supplementation was seen in boys' height increment at the end of follow-up period. Stunted growth rate in ZG changed significantly (P = 0.01) from 26.7% to 2.5% throughout the study. This study showed that daily supplementation of 5 mg elemental zinc for 6 months improves physical growth in terms of height increment and weight gain in children with undesirable linear growth, especially in boys.

Effects of dietary zinc supplement during lactation on longitudinal changes in plasma and milk zinc concentration.

Effects of dietary zinc supplement during lactation on maternal zinc plasma and milk zinc concentration through 5 months of lactation were examined. One hundred and thirty eight healthy lactating mothers received a weekly 100 mg elemental zinc supplement (ZS, n = 67) or placebo (PG, n = 71) starting one week postpartum in a double blind, randomized design. Milk and plasma zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. During the course of study, there was not a significantly difference between ZG and PG groups in dietary zinc and energy intake. The mean plasma zinc concentration at 1st week and 5th month were 134 +/- 49.1 and 115.6 +/- 23 microg dL(-1) (PV = 0.005) for PG group, respectively; that of the ZG group these figures were 124.9 +/- 52.8 and 121 +/- 27.1 microg dL(-1) (PV = 0.38), respectively. The mean serum alkaline phosphatase concentration at 1st week and 5th month were 94.8 +/- 37 and 92.6 +/- 29.9 iu L(-1) for PG group, respectively; that of the ZG group these fissures were 90.5 +/- 36 and 90 +/- 29 iu L(-1) (PV = 0.21), respectively. Milk zinc concentration declined significantly over the course of study for two groups, with the sharpest decline occurring during the first 2 months. The mean monthly zinc concentration of ZG group declined from 310 +/- 138 at 1st week to 118 +/- 64 microg dL(-1) at 5th month (declined by 52%). Corresponding means for PG group were 322 +/- 161 and 109 +/- 70 microg dL(-1) (declined by 60%), respectively. Milk zinc concentration significantly different between two groups at 3 and 4 months. A similar study, however, with different zinc dose and administration manner, in zinc marginal deficient lactating mothers is needed to assess the impact of zinc supplementation on milk zinc concentrations.