Open AccessNutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children
Author(s) -
Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas Lopes,
Naira Josele Neves de Brito,
Érika Dantas de Medeiros Rocha,
Mardone Cavalcante França,
Maria das Graças Almeida,
José BrandãoNéto
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
food and nutrition research/food and nutrition research. supplement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1654-6628
pISSN - 1654-661X
DOI - 10.3402/fnr.v59.29733
Subject(s) - zinc , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , medicine , physiology , endocrinology , environmental health , bioinformatics , food science , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Background Zinc is an essential nutrient that is required for numerous metabolic functions, and zinc deficiency results in growth retardation, cell-mediated immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. Objective This study evaluated nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children. Design We performed a randomised, controlled, triple-blind study. The children were divided into a control group (10% sorbitol, n =31) and an experimental group (10 mg Zn/day, n =31) for 3 months. Anthropometric and dietary assessments as well as bioelectrical measurements were performed in all children. Results Our study showed (1) an increased body mass index for age and an increased phase angle in the experimental group; (2) a positive correlation between nutritional assessment parameters in both groups; (3) increased soft tissue, and mainly fat-free mass, in the body composition of the experimental group, as determined using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis; (4) increased consumption of all nutrients, including zinc, in the experimental group; and (5) an increased serum zinc concentration in both groups ( p <0.0001). Conclusions Given that a reference for body composition analysis does not exist for intervention studies, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate vector migration during zinc supplementation. These results reinforce the importance of employing multiple techniques to assess the nutritional status of populations.