The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children

Objective. A community-based, randomized, double-blind intervention trial was conducted to measure the impact of zinc supplementation on young Guatemalan children's morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections.Methods. Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to receive 4 mL of a bev...

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Autores principales: Ruel, Marie T., Rivera, Juan A., Santizo, Maria-Claudia, Lonnerdal, Bo, Brown, Kenneth H.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: American Academy of Pediatrics 1997
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171615
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author Ruel, Marie T.
Rivera, Juan A.
Santizo, Maria-Claudia
Lonnerdal, Bo
Brown, Kenneth H.
author_browse Brown, Kenneth H.
Lonnerdal, Bo
Rivera, Juan A.
Ruel, Marie T.
Santizo, Maria-Claudia
author_facet Ruel, Marie T.
Rivera, Juan A.
Santizo, Maria-Claudia
Lonnerdal, Bo
Brown, Kenneth H.
author_sort Ruel, Marie T.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Objective. A community-based, randomized, double-blind intervention trial was conducted to measure the impact of zinc supplementation on young Guatemalan children's morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections.Methods. Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to receive 4 mL of a beverage containing 10 mg of zinc (as zinc sulfate) daily (7 d/wk) for 7 months (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 44). Morbidity data were collected daily. Diagnoses of diarrhea, fever, and anorexia were based on mothers' definitions. Respiratory infections were defined as the presence of at least two of the following symptoms: runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or fever.Results. High rates of diarrhea and respiratory infections were reported. Children from the placebo group had a 20% episodic prevalence of diarrhea, with 8 episodes/100 d, and a 7% episodic prevalence of respiratory infections, with 3 episodes/100 d. The median incidence of diarrhea among children who received zinc supplementation was reduced by 22% (Wilcoxon rank test), with larger reductions among boys and among children with weight-for-length at baseline lower than the median of the sample (39% reductions in both subgroups). Zinc supplementation also produced a 67% reduction in the percentage of children who had one or more episodes of persistent diarrhea (χ2 test). No significant effects were found on the episodic prevalence of diarrhea, the number of days per episode, or the episodic prevalence or incidence of respiratory infections.Conclusions. The large impact of zinc supplementation on diarrhea incidence suggests that young, rural Guatemalan children may be zinc deficient and that zinc supplementation may be an effective intervention to improve their health and growth.
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spelling CGSpace1716152025-02-19T14:00:18Z The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children Ruel, Marie T. Rivera, Juan A. Santizo, Maria-Claudia Lonnerdal, Bo Brown, Kenneth H. developing countries infection rural areas children minerals mineral deficiencies nutritional disorders foodborne diseases diarrhoea Objective. A community-based, randomized, double-blind intervention trial was conducted to measure the impact of zinc supplementation on young Guatemalan children's morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections.Methods. Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to receive 4 mL of a beverage containing 10 mg of zinc (as zinc sulfate) daily (7 d/wk) for 7 months (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 44). Morbidity data were collected daily. Diagnoses of diarrhea, fever, and anorexia were based on mothers' definitions. Respiratory infections were defined as the presence of at least two of the following symptoms: runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or fever.Results. High rates of diarrhea and respiratory infections were reported. Children from the placebo group had a 20% episodic prevalence of diarrhea, with 8 episodes/100 d, and a 7% episodic prevalence of respiratory infections, with 3 episodes/100 d. The median incidence of diarrhea among children who received zinc supplementation was reduced by 22% (Wilcoxon rank test), with larger reductions among boys and among children with weight-for-length at baseline lower than the median of the sample (39% reductions in both subgroups). Zinc supplementation also produced a 67% reduction in the percentage of children who had one or more episodes of persistent diarrhea (χ2 test). No significant effects were found on the episodic prevalence of diarrhea, the number of days per episode, or the episodic prevalence or incidence of respiratory infections.Conclusions. The large impact of zinc supplementation on diarrhea incidence suggests that young, rural Guatemalan children may be zinc deficient and that zinc supplementation may be an effective intervention to improve their health and growth. 1997-06-01 2025-01-29T12:58:27Z 2025-01-29T12:58:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171615 en Limited Access American Academy of Pediatrics Ruel, Marie T.; Rivera, Juan A.; Santizo, Maria-Claudia; Lonnerdal, Bo; Brown, Kenneth H. 1997. The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children. Pediatrics 99(6): 808-813. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.99.6.808.
spellingShingle developing countries
infection
rural areas
children
minerals
mineral deficiencies
nutritional disorders
foodborne diseases
diarrhoea
Ruel, Marie T.
Rivera, Juan A.
Santizo, Maria-Claudia
Lonnerdal, Bo
Brown, Kenneth H.
The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title_full The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title_fullStr The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title_full_unstemmed The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title_short The impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children
title_sort impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural guatemalan children
topic developing countries
infection
rural areas
children
minerals
mineral deficiencies
nutritional disorders
foodborne diseases
diarrhoea
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/171615
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