Serum zinc and somatic growth in children with growth retardation

A possible role for zinc deficiency in some cases of growth retardation in southern France was investigated. Control values for zinc for 160 children (age = 12.5 +/- 2.4 yr) are 0.85 +/- 0.22 mg/L (mean +/- 2 SD). Twenty-five children with low serum zinc values (less than 0.63 mg/L) and 25 matched short children with normal serum zinc values (greater than 0.63 mg/L) were studied. Children in the two groups did not differ significantly in age, pubertal development, stature, and weight. For the 25 children whose serum values were low, we found significantly lower values for bone age delay, growth velocity in mm/month, as well as the ratio between calculated growth velocity and theoretical growth velocity for the bone age (so that zincemia was correlated to these parameters in the whole sample of 50 subjects). Nevertheless, no significant difference could be found between the two groups for serum somatomedin C, serum osteocalcin values, and GH responses to the GH stimulatory tests (exercise test, overnight sampling, insulin-induced hypoglycemia, arginine test). Therefore, low serum zinc is associated with a retardation in both somatic growth and pubertal maturation.