Diarrhea prevalence on days 3 , 5 , and 7 was lower in the zinc group .
The incidence of vomiting was significantly greater in the group that received zinc than in the control group .
CONCLUSIONS Oral zinc supplementation significantly decreases diarrhea duration and has a greater effect on malnourished children .
OBJECTIVE To up date the available evidence about zinc use for treating diarrhea in children and to assess its effect on the malnourished population , a subgroup that has not been fully explored in previous analyses .
Zinc, vitamin A, and micronutrient supplementation in children with diarrhea: a randomized controlled clinical trial of combination therapy versus monotherapy.
OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy of supplementation of zinc , zinc plus vitamin A , and zinc plus combination of micronutrients and vitamins ( iron , copper , selenium , vitamin B(12 ) , folate , and vitamin A ) on acute diarrhea in children . STUDY DESIGN This was a double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial . Children aged 6 to 24 months with diarrhea and moderate dehydration were r and omized to receive zinc plus placebo vitamin A ( group 1 ) , zinc plus other micronutrients plus vitamin A ( group 2 ) , zinc plus vitamin A ( group 3 ) , or placebo ( group 4 ) as an adjunct to oral rehydration solution .  Duration , volume of diarrhea , and consumption of oral rehydration solution were compared as outcome variables within the supplemented groups and with the placebo group . RESULTS The 167 study subjects included 41 in group 1 , 39 in group 2 , 44 in group 3 , and 43 in group 4 . All 3 supplemented groups demonstrated a significant reduction in outcome variables ( P < .0001 ) compared with the placebo group . Group 3 had the lowest reduction of outcome variables and group 2 had a speedy recovery , but differences among the supplemented groups were not statistically significant . CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with a combination of micronutrients and vitamins was not superior to zinc alone , confirming the clinical benefit of zinc in children with diarrhea
Diarrhea prevalence on days 3 , 5 , and 7 was lower in the zinc group .
The incidence of vomiting was significantly greater in the group that received zinc than in the control group .
CONCLUSIONS Oral zinc supplementation significantly decreases diarrhea duration and has a greater effect on malnourished children .
OBJECTIVE To up date the available evidence about zinc use for treating diarrhea in children and to assess its effect on the malnourished population , a subgroup that has not been fully explored in previous analyses .