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Zinc supplementation for four months does not affect growth in young North Indian children
- Source :
- The Journal of Nutrition. March, 2010, Vol. 140 Issue 3, p630, 5 p.
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Our objective in this trial was to assess the impact of daily zinc supplementation on growth in young children. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in New Delhi, India. We enrolled 2482 children aged 6-30 mo who were supplemented daily with placebo or zinc (10 mg elemental zinc to infants and 20 mg to older children) for 4 mo. At enrolment, all children also received a single dose of vitamin A (104.7 [micro]mol for infants and 209.4 [micro]mol for older children). Weight and length were measured at enrolment and 4 mo later. Weekly visits were conducted by field workers to ascertain morbidity in the previous 7 d. Change in length, weight, length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), and weight-for- length Z-scores (WLZ) after 4 mo of supplementation were assessed in the zinc and placebo groups. After 4 mo of supplementation, the weight and length gains in the 2 groups did not differ and there was no impact on LAZ, weight- forage, and WLZ in the 2 groups. There was no substantial effect in any of the subgroups defined for age, income, gender, zinc levels in the crude analysis nor after adjusting for age, gender, income, breast-feeding status, and baseline anthropometric status. Despite successful zinc supplementation reflected in increased plasma zinc concentration and a substantially reduced incidence of diarrhea and pneumonia in zinc-supplemented children, the intervention did not have a beneficial effect on growth. doi: 10.3945/jn.109.115766.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00223166
- Volume :
- 140
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.221203566