Zinc supplementation in chronic renal failure

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Nutritional Science
• Mineral Metabolism

Background:

• Children and adolescents with chronic progressive renal disease often experience zinc deficiency.
• This deficiency can lead to abnormal taste acuity and reduced caloric intake, contributing to poor growth.
• Early intervention may be crucial for managing these complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on taste acuity, caloric intake, and growth in pediatric patients with chronic renal failure.
• To assess the impact of zinc on red blood cell zinc concentrations.
• To determine if zinc supplementation can mitigate nutritional deficits in non-dialysis pediatric renal failure patients.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind crossover study design was employed.
• Fourteen pediatric patients with chronic renal failure, not yet on dialysis or awaiting transplant, participated.
• Participants received zinc supplementation, with outcomes measured over a defined period.

Main Results:

• Zinc supplementation led to increased red blood cell zinc concentrations.
• Taste acuity significantly improved following zinc supplementation.
• Caloric intake increased in patients with less advanced renal failure (serum creatinine < 5.0 mg/dl).
• No significant changes in growth velocity were observed during the six months of supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Zinc supplementation is effective in improving zinc status, taste acuity, and caloric intake in pediatric patients with chronic renal failure.
• While beneficial for nutritional markers, zinc supplementation did not demonstrate an immediate impact on growth velocity in this cohort.
• Further research may explore long-term effects and optimal therapeutic strategies for zinc deficiency in pediatric kidney disease.