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Effects of zinc supplementation on catch-up growth in children with failure to thrive

Seul-Gi Park1, Ha-Neul Choi1, Hye-Ran Yang2

  • 1Department of Food and Nutrition, Changwon National University, 20 Changwondaehak-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam 51140, Korea.

Nutrition Research and Practice
|December 7, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Zinc supplementation improved growth in children with failure to thrive (FTT). The benefits were more pronounced in underweight children, suggesting FTT treatment should consider zinc levels and FTT severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Failure to thrive (FTT) remains a significant pediatric concern despite global decreases in diagnosis.
  • Investigating effective interventions for FTT is crucial for child health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of 6-month zinc supplementation on growth parameters in infants and children diagnosed with FTT.
  • To determine if zinc supplementation efficacy varies based on FTT severity.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study involving 114 children (4 months to 6 years) with FTT.
  • 89 children received nutrition counseling plus oral zinc supplementation for 6 months.
  • 25 children received nutrition counseling only (control group).
  • Analyzed growth parameters (height, weight), serum zinc, and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) levels.

Main Results:

  • Zinc supplementation significantly increased weight-for-age Z-scores and serum zinc levels in underweight children.
  • Height-for-age Z-scores improved in stunted children, with increased serum zinc in those with normal or mild stunting.
  • Serum IGF1 levels showed no significant changes across groups.
  • Efficacy of zinc supplementation was greater in underweight children compared to stunted children, varying by FTT degree.

Conclusions:

  • Zinc supplementation demonstrates potential benefits for the growth of infants and children experiencing FTT.
  • Tailoring zinc supplementation based on the degree of FTT is recommended for optimal outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Failure to thrivechildgrowthzinc

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