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 .
Effects of short-term zinc supplementation on cellular immunity, respiratory symptoms, and growth of malnourished Equadorian children.
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on respiratory tract disease , immunity and growth in malnourished children .  DESIGN A r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial . SETTING A day-care center in Quito , Ecuador . SUBJECTS Fifty children ( 12 - 59 months old ) recruited by height-for-age and weight-for-age deficit . INTERVENTIONS Twenty-five children ( supplemented , S group ) received 10 mg/day of zinc as zinc sulfate , and 25 ( nonsupplemented , NS group ) received a placebo during 60 days . All were also observed during a 60-day postsupplementation period . Two children of the S group dropped out . Daily the clinical presence of cough , respiratory tract secretions , and fever , was recorded . On days 0,60 and 120 , the cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity ( DTH ) to multiple antigens , and anthropometric parameters were assessed . On days 0 and 60 serum zinc levels were also measured . RESULTS On day 60 , DTH was significantly larger ( 20.8 + /- 7.1 vs 16.1 + /- 9.7 mm ) , and serum zinc levels were significantly higher ( 118.6 + /- 47.1 vs 83.1 + /- 24.5 micrograms/dl ) in the S group than in the NS group ( P < 0.05 for each ) . The incidence of fever [ relative risk ( RR ) : 0.30 , c.i . = 0.08- 0.95 , P = 0.02 ] , cough ( RR ) : 0.52 , c.i . = 0.32 - 0.84 , P = 0.004 ) and upper respiratory tract secretions (RR):0.72 , c.i . = 0.59 - 0.88 , P = 0.001 ) was lower in the S group than in the NS group at day 60 . At the end of the postsupplementation observation period ( day 120 ) , the incidence of fever and upper respiratory tract secretions was the same in both the S and NS groups . The incidence of cough was higher at day 120 in the S group than in the NS group ( RR ) : 2.28 , c.i . = 1.37 - 3.83 , P = 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS This study supports a role for zinc in immunity , and immunity to respiratory infections , while pointing out the need for larger studies
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 .