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 .
A growth-limiting, mild zinc-deficiency syndrome in some southern Ontario boys with low height percentiles.
A double-blind , pair-matched 12-mo study examined the effects of a zinc supplement ( 10 mg Zn/d as ZnSO4 ) on linear growth , taste acuity , attention span , biochemical indices , and energy intakes of 60 boys ( aged 5 - 7 y ) with height less than or equal to 15th and midparent height greater than 25th percentiles . Boys with initial hair Zn less than 1.68 mumol/g ( n = 16 ) had a lower mean ( + /- SD ) weight-for-age Z score ( -0.44 + /- 0.59 vs -0.08 + /- 0.84 ) , and a higher median recognition threshold for salt ( 15 vs 7.5 mmol ; p = 0.02 ) than those with hair Zn greater than 1.68 mumol/g . Only boys with hair Zn less than 1.68 mumol/g responded to the Zn supplement with a higher mean change in height-for-age Z score ( p less than 0.05 ) ; taste acuity , energy intakes , and attention span were unaffected . A growth-limiting Zn deficiency syndrome exists in boys with low height percentiles , hair Zn levels less than 1.68 mumol/g , and impaired taste acuity
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 .