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 .
Longitudinal measurements of zinc absorption in Peruvian children consuming wheat products fortified with iron only or iron and 1 of 2 amounts of zinc.
BACKGROUND Information is needed on the fractional absorption of zinc ( FAZ ) and absorbed zinc ( AZ ) during prolonged exposure to zinc-fortified foods . OBJECTIVE The objective was to measure FAZ and AZ from diets fortified with different amounts of zinc and to determine whether zinc absorption changes over approximately 7 wk . DESIGN Forty-one stunted , moderately anemic children received daily , at breakfast and lunch , 100 g wheat products fortified with 3 mg Fe ( ferrous sulfate ) and 0 ( group Zn-0 ) , 3 ( group Zn-3 ) , or 9 ( group Zn-9 ) mg Zn ( zinc sulfate ) per 100 g flour . FAZ was measured on days 2 - 3 and 51 - 52 ; meal-specific AZs were calculated as the product of FAZ and zinc intake . RESULTS For the breakfast and lunch meals combined , mean total zinc intakes were 2.14 , 4.72 , and 10.04 mg/d in groups Zn-0 , Zn-3 , and Zn-9 , respectively , during the initial absorption studies ; mean ( + /-SD ) FAZ values were 0.341 + /- 0.111 , 0.237 + /- 0.052 , and 0.133 + /- 0.041 , respectively , on days 2 - 3 ( P < 0.001 ) and did not change significantly on days 51 - 52 in the subset of 31 children studied twice . Mean initial AZ was positively related to zinc intake ( 0.71 + /- 0.18 , 1.11 + /- 0.21 , and 1.34 + /- 0.47 mg/d , respectively ; P < 0.001 ) ; final values did not differ significantly from the initial values . CONCLUSIONS AZ from meals containing zinc-fortified wheat products increases in young children relative to the level of fortification and changes only slightly during approximately 7-wk periods of consumption . Although consumption of zinc-fortified foods may reduce FAZ , zinc fortification at the levels studied positively affects total daily zinc absorption , even after nearly 2 mo of exposure to zinc-fortified diets
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 .