Zn supplementation was associated with increased fat-free mass among stunted children .
Due to the use of anthropometry when determining body composition , a majority of the studies could not accurately address whether alterations in the fat and /or fat-free mass components of the body were responsible for the observed changes in body composition .
The effect of Zn supplementation on body composition is not consistent but may modify fat-free mass among children with pre-existing growth failure
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of Zn supplementation on childhood body composition and adiposity-related hormone levels .
Zinc supplementation increases growth velocity of male children and adolescents with short stature
We assessed the effect of zinc supplementation on growth velocity in 79 children and adolescents ( 48 males , 38 females ) with idiopathic short stature . Their height‐for‐age was < 5th percentile ( NCHS st and ards ) and their weight‐for‐age was normal . Patients were assigned r and omly to a supplemented group ( S ) to receive Zn 10 mg/day or to a placebo ( P ) group , according to gender and age , and were followed‐up for 12 months using a double‐blind design . Weight , height , armspan , length of lower segment and plasma and hair concentrations of Zn were measured at 0 , 3 , 6 and 12 months . On admission and at 6 months , energy , protein , dietary fiber and zinc intakes were similar for groups S and P ; mean zinc intake was < 6.5mg/day . No differences were found in plasma zinc , hair zinc , weight . armspan or lower segment increments . Pre‐adolescent males in group S had a significantly greater increase in stature compared with group P ( 6.2 ± 2.1 versus 4.5 ± 1.2 cm/year p < 0.025 ) ; z score improved from —2.42 to —2.24 in group S and from — 2.63 to — 2.61 in group P. For adolescent males , the difference was also significant ( 8.3 ± 1.5 versus 6.2 & 2.1 cm/year ; p < 0.025 ) . No differences were noted in females . In Chilean male schoolchildren and adolescents with idiopathic short stature  , zinc supplementation increases growth velocity over a 12‐month period
Zn supplementation was associated with increased fat-free mass among stunted children .
Due to the use of anthropometry when determining body composition , a majority of the studies could not accurately address whether alterations in the fat and /or fat-free mass components of the body were responsible for the observed changes in body composition .
The effect of Zn supplementation on body composition is not consistent but may modify fat-free mass among children with pre-existing growth failure
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of Zn supplementation on childhood body composition and adiposity-related hormone levels .