Jk. Kikafunda et al., Effect of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition of Ugandan preschool children: a randomized, controlled, intervention trial, AM J CLIN N, 68(6), 1998, pp. 1261-1266
Background: Despite ample food supplies, the incidence of childhood underwe
ight and stunting remains high in Uganda. Many factors contribute to this s
ituation, but the role of low zinc intakes has not been adequately explored
.
Objective: Our objective was to study the effect of zinc supplementation on
growth and body composition of preschool children by using the outcome mea
sures of weight, height, and midupper arm circumference (MUAC).
Design: The study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, paralle
l, and 8 mo long, and incorporated 6 mo of zinc supplementation. Children (
n = 153) aged 55.8 +/- 11.2 mo from 3 randomly selected nursery schools of
medium, low, and very low socioeconomic status in a suburb of Kampala took
part. The intervention comprised 10 mg Zn (as ZnSO4) or placebo daily in fr
eshly prepared fruit juice, Monday to Friday inclusive.
Results: Zinc supplementation increased MUAC by the end of the study (P = 0
.029) and led to greater weight gain in children from the school of medium
socioeconomic status at 3 and 8 mo (P = 0.019 and P = 0.038, respectively).
There was no effect on weight gain of the children from the other schools.
Zinc supplementation had no influence on height. Infection rates (of which
82% were recorded as malaria) were lower in the zinc-supplemented group th
an in control subjects (P = 0.063).
Conclusions: Zinc supplementation may counter the age-related decrease in M
UAC often observed in preschool children in developing countries. The study
provides evidence that zinc may not be the most limiting nutrient for weig
ht gain in children of poor nutritional status, but may become so as nutrit
ional status improves.