Zinc supplementation in severe malnutrition
Vasudevan, A.; Shendurnikar, N.; Kotecha, P.V.
Indian Pediatrics 34(3): 236-238
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 9282492 Document Number: 484063
Sixty-two children, 8-24 months old, with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) grades III and IV, were selected from those attending the Outpatient Division, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College, Baroda, divided into 2 groups and given Zn 6.6 mg (as 20 mg ZnSO4) once daily (n=31) or a placebo (n=31), for 3 months. Nutritional counselling was given to parents and dietary intake maintained at 100-200 calories/kg daily. Initial mean serum Zn values were 98.4+or-26.1 micro g/100 ml in the 62 malnourished children and 154.4+or-24 micro g/100 ml for 20 healthy children (P<0.001). Children in the Zn-supplemented group showed a greater increase (53.1 micro g/100 ml) in their serum Zn concentration after 3 months compared with the placebo group (16.4 micro g/100 ml), but there was no difference in weight gain between the 2 groups. No obvious signs of Zn deficiency were observed and none of the children showed any side effects following Zn supplementation. It is concluded that although Zn supplementation shows no beneficial effect on weight gain, dietary Zn is inadequate to meet the demands of rapid growth and new tissue synthesis in children recovering from PEM; Zn supplementation is, therefore, recommended for malnourished children.