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  • Title: Effect of zinc supplementation in patients with acute and persistent diarrhoea.
    Author: Roy SK.
    Journal: Glimpse; 1991; 13(3):2. PubMed ID: 12284314.
    Abstract:
    From 1987-1989, researchers conducted a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial among 301 infants 3-24 months old with acute or persistent diarrhea in Bangladesh to determine the impact of 2 weeks of zinc acetate (15mg/kg/day) supplementation on intestinal function, morbidity, and growth. A significant increase in mean serum levels of zinc occurred in infants with acute diarrhea, but levels did not change in those with persistent diarrhea. Zinc supplementation substantially improved the intestine's mucosal permeability after 1 week in infants with persistent diarrhea and after 2 weeks in those with acute diarrhea. Moreover, infants with acute diarrhea who received zinc experienced significant weight gain during hospitalization. In addition, the weight of those with persistent diarrhea who received zinc did not falter. All children with acute diarrhea who received zinc grew taller than the placebo group (18.9mm vs. 14.5mm; p.03). Among persistent diarrhea children, zinc supplementation resulted in a significant 22% decrease in the number of lighter children (70% weight/age) and a significant 30% decrease in wasted children (78% height/age) during hospitalization. These same children experienced significantly higher linear growth and height gain after leaving the hospital. Further, zinc supplemented infants with persistent diarrhea had a significantly lower diarrhea attack rate and lower duration of diarrhea than those in the placebo group. Similarly, zinc supplementation in the lighter children with acute diarrhea substantially decreased mean diarrhea attack rate (.4 vs .1) and duration (.8 vs. 3 days). In addition, it also significantly reduced attacks and duration of both diarrhea and respiratory tract infections in shorter children (90% height/age). Physiological and nutritional studies are needed to learn the mechanisms involved.
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