Zinc Supplementation in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Beneficial effects of zinc supplementation on head circumference of Nepalese infants and toddlers: a randomized controlled trial

“…[28][29][30][31] Krebs et al 27 randomized 5-month-old infants to complementary feeding groups to receive either pureed beef or iron-fortified cereal. Children in the meat intervention group, with high zinc and protein intake, showed greater increases in head circumference between ages 7 and 12 months.…”

“…28 Three additional studies on the effect of zinc supplementation or the introduction of zinc and iron rich foods in preterm or very low birthweight infants have shown null results. [29][30][31] The literature on randomized studies of zinc supplementation during pregnancy and head circumference at birth is also mixed with two studies reporting an association, 32,33 one showing an association only in children of mothers with body mass index of o26, 34 and four studies suggesting no association. [35][36][37][38] There has been one prospective study based on a food frequency questionnaire suggesting an inverse association between zinc intake of mothers in the second trimester of pregnancy with head circumference at birth.…”

Effect of oral zinc supplementation on the growth of preterm infants

“…Of the 3 studies conducted in developed countries (Spain and Canada), 2 studies among preterm infants showed positive effect on plasma zinc concentrations and linear growth(3,4) and 1 on LBW infants showed no effect(5). However, no significant effect on weight gain was VOLUME 47 __ OCTOBER 17, 2010 SAZAWAL AND BLACK EFFECT OF ORAL ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION observed in any of these studies (3)(4)(5). The available evidence for the effect of zinc supplementation on growth among low birth weight infants from developing countries setting is from India (2 studies)(6,7), Bangladesh (1 study)(8), Chile (1 study) (9) and Brazil (1 study) (10).…”

To Study the Role of Zinc Supplementation on Growth of Low Birth Weight Infants

“…Zinc deficiency is one of the most prevalent deficiencies in LBW infants due to decreased stores (poor maternal fetal transfer and small liver size), decreased absorption due to immature gut and increased requirement due to catch up growth with the resultant decline in zinc in body stores & serum during the early period of life 1,2 .…”

“…Zinc deficiency in infants has been shown to have an adverse impact on growth and immunity in many studies 2 . Several studies have demonstrated the benefit of zinc supplementation in low birth infants with regard to growth and prevention of infections [2][3][4][5][6][7] However, some studies have shown marginal or no effect 8 , It is with this view that the present study is undertaking to evaluate the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in LBW infants in our set up.…”