Conclusions : Many of the children in the included studies were already stunted and may have been suffering from multiple micronutrient deficiencies , and therefore zinc supplementation alone may have only a limited effect on growth
Background / objectives : It is estimated that zinc deficiency affects 17 % of the world 's population , and because of periods of rapid growth children are at an increased risk of deficiency , which may lead to stunting .
This paper presents a systematic review and meta- analysis of the r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) that assess zinc intake and growth in children aged 1–8 years .
Linear growth of low income preschool children receiving a zinc supplement.
The effects of a zinc supplement on growth velocity were assessed in a double-blind , pair-matched controlled study in 40 children with low growth percentiles . Participants were low-income Spanish-American children , 2 to 6 yr of age with heights below the 10th percentile and nutritional or biochemical evidence of zinc deficiency . After 1 yr , the mean height velocity of the zinc-supplemented children was slightly , but significantly ( p less than 0.005 ) , greater than that of control children . This effect was primarily due to a greater height achievement of the zinc-supplemented boys . Increases in height-for-age z-scores were also significant for the supplemented males ( p less than 0.001 ) and for the combined sexes ( p less than 0.05 ) . This study indicates the existence of a growth-limiting syndrome of mild zinc deficiency in children
Conclusions : Many of the children in the included studies were already stunted and may have been suffering from multiple micronutrient deficiencies , and therefore zinc supplementation alone may have only a limited effect on growth
Background / objectives : It is estimated that zinc deficiency affects 17 % of the world 's population , and because of periods of rapid growth children are at an increased risk of deficiency , which may lead to stunting .
This paper presents a systematic review and meta- analysis of the r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) that assess zinc intake and growth in children aged 1–8 years .