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 .
Plasma zinc, rate of weight gain, and the energy cost of tissue deposition in children recovering from severe malnutrition on a cow's milk or soya protein based diet.
Thirty-four malnourished children were rehabilitated on either a cow 's milk or a soya protein based formula diet . The soya diet contained 25 % less zinc than the cow 's milk diet and 1.33 mmol/l phytic acid . When the marasmic children were given either of these diets they had a dramatic fall in their plasma zinc concentration .  Children given the soya formula had an even more profound drop in plasma zinc , to levels associated with acrodermatitis enteropathica . Plasma zinc remained low throughout the phase of rapid weight gain , but rose when a mixed diet was given and the children ceased gaining weight . There was a negative correlation between the rate of weight gain and the plasma zinc concentration , the rate of new tissue synthesis being the predominant modulator of the plasma zinc concentration . The energy cost of tissue deposition was initially low on the cow 's milk diet and relatively high on the soya diet . Later , the energy costs rose in the cow 's milk fed children . The rate of weight gain was less on the soya diet ; however , the appetite , as measured by the ad libitum dietary intakes , did not differ between the diets , or correlate with the plasma zinc concentration . This may be due to the relatively low protein content of the diets used . It is concluded that dietary zinc may limit the rate of weight gain during periods of recovery in body mass and may be a cause for the excessive deposition of adipose tissue
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 .