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Placebo‐Controlled, Dose‐Response Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Risk of Zinc Supplementation, With or Without Copper, on Plasma Zinc Concentrations, Morbidity, Markers of Copper Status and Growth of Young Ecuadorian Children at Risk of Zinc Deficiency
Author(s) -
Wuehler Sara E.,
Sempértegui Fernando,
Brown Kenneth H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a680-b
Subject(s) - zinc , placebo , anthropometry , medicine , randomized controlled trial , zoology , diarrhea , ceruloplasmin , incidence (geometry) , anemia , copper , gastroenterology , chemistry , biology , alternative medicine , pathology , physics , organic chemistry , optics
This randomized, double‐masked intervention trial was carried out in Ecuadorian children 12 to 30 mo of age with initial length‐for‐age z‐score (LAZ) < −1.3 and absence of severe anemia. Intervention groups: 3 (3Z), 7 (7Z), or 10 (10Z) mg/d zinc as sulfate, 10 mg/d zinc + 0.5 mg/d copper as sulphate (10ZC), or placebo (P) in syrup. Supplement consumption was supervised 3–5 times/wk during morbidity surveillance. Anthropometry and biochemical indicators were assessed at 0, 3 and 6 mo. The change in plasma zinc concentration (PZnC) and the incidence of diarrhea (IncDiar) were significantly related to the zinc dose (p≤0.01). There was no significant effect of treatment group on change in LAZ, weight‐for‐age or weight‐for‐length z‐scores, or plasma copper or ceruloplasmin concentrations. Provision of 7 mg/d zinc was sufficient to increase plasma zinc concentrations, and 3 and 7 mg/d zinc reduced the incidence of diarrhea in these children with mild‐moderate stunting. There was no significant impact of any level of zinc supplementation on the children's physical growth or markers of copper status. Funding: USDA, USAID, UNICEF, FARMA