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Does mild zinc deficiency contribute to poor growth performance?
1MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Nutrition Reviews
|September 1, 1993
Summary
Zinc supplementation may not improve growth in healthy children, even with mild deficiency. While it increased body fat in Guatemalan children, height and weight gains were unaffected, suggesting further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Pediatric health
- Human growth and development
Background:
- Zinc is essential for growth, particularly in cases of severe malnutrition.
- Mild zinc deficiency's impact on growth in healthy children remains unclear.
- Previous research indicates a role for zinc in promoting growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on growth parameters in children with mild zinc deficiency.
- To assess the influence of zinc on height, weight, and body fat in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- An intervention study was conducted with children aged six to seven years.
- Participants were from a low-income area in Guatemala.
- Growth metrics including height, weight, and body fat status were measured.
Main Results:
- Zinc supplementation did not result in significant improvements in height or weight gain.
- A notable increase in body fat status was observed in the supplemented group.
- No statistically significant growth benefits were evident from the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Zinc supplementation may not be effective for improving linear growth or weight gain in children with mild zinc deficiency.
- The observed increase in body fat warrants further investigation into zinc's metabolic effects.
- Additional research is necessary to fully understand the role of mild zinc deficiency in limiting growth.