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Zinc and iron status and growth in healthy infants
D Bouglé1, D Laroche, F Bureau
1Laboratoire de Physiologie Digestive et Nutritionnelle and Service de Pédiatrie A, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
Insights
In normal infants, iron status is more closely linked to growth than serum zinc levels. This study found iron, specifically ferritin, significantly correlated with linear growth and weight gain, while zinc showed no significant association.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Human Growth and Development
- Mineral Metabolism
Background:
- Infant growth is crucial for long-term health.
- Zinc and iron are essential micronutrients for child development.
- Understanding their roles in infant growth is vital for nutritional guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between growth parameters and zinc and iron status in healthy infants.
- To determine which micronutrient, zinc or iron, has a stronger association with infant growth.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 66 healthy infants under 3 years old.
- Growth was monitored over time and compared with serum zinc (s-zinc) and iron status (ferritin).
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was also assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between linear or weight growth and serum zinc levels.
- Linear growth was significantly associated with ferritin levels (P<0.001).
- Weight gain showed significant correlations with both IGF-1 (P = 0.034) and ferritin (P = 0.008).
Conclusions:
- Iron status, particularly ferritin, appears to be a more significant factor in the growth of normal infants than serum zinc.
- These findings highlight the importance of adequate iron levels for optimal infant growth.
Objective:
To elucidate the relationships between growth and zinc and iron status in normal infants.
Study Design:
Growth of normal infants (less than 3 y old: n = 66) was prospectively assessed with a mean delay of 24+/-6 weeks between measurements; subjects were free from illness and presented with a normal growth. Growth was compared to serum zinc (s-zinc), IGF-1 and iron status.
Setting:
Teaching hospital of Caen.
Results:
No relation was found between linear or weight growth and s-zinc; when taking into account the effect of age, linear growth was significantly associated with ferritin (P<0.001); weight gain was significantly correlated with IGF-1 (P = 0.034) and ferritin (P = 0.008). No relationship was found between s-zinc and iron status.
Conclusions:
In normal infants iron status, more than serum zinc, seems to be correlated with growth.