Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Observed Activity in Low Socioeconomic Indian Preschool Children
1 The Indian Council of Medical Research Advanced Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; and Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
2 Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
3 The Indian Council of Medical Research Advanced Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Objectives. To investigate whether supplementation of zinc in preschool children is associated with improvement in observed activity levels.
Methods. On 2 consecutive days, we performed 5-hour observations with momentary time sampling (instant activity every 10 minutes) in children selected from an ongoing double-blind, randomized trial of zinc supplementation. The study was conducted in Kalkaji, a low-socioeconomic urban population of New Delhi with high diarrheal incidence and rates of malnutrition. A total of 93 children (48 zinc and 45 control) 12 to 23 months of age from an ongoing community-based, randomized, controlled trial received supplements for at least 1 month before study; 71% had received supplementation for more than 120 days. Zinc gluconate (10 mg of elemental zinc) was given daily, with both zinc and control groups receiving vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D3, and E and niacinamide in addition.
Results. Outcomes were percentages of time spent in each of five activity levels and two groups representing high and low movement and overall rating by two activity scores. Children in the zinc group spent 72% more time performing activities in the high-movement group. Among the zinc-supplemented children, the activity rating by the children's activity rating score was 12% higher and by the energy expenditure score was 8.3% higher than in the control group.
Conclusions. In conclusion, zinc supplementation, given along with selected vitamins, was associated with significantly greater activity levels in children. The relationship between the activity increase and locomotor development needs to be investigated, as do the long-term implications of zinc supplementation in terms of developmental status and school performance.
Key Words: zinc • activity • child development • malnutrition
Submitted on October 3, 1995
Accepted on January 25, 1996
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  D. K. Olney, E. Pollitt, P. K. Kariger, S. S. Khalfan, N. S. Ali, J. M. Tielsch, S. Sazawal, R. Black, D. Mast, L. H. Allen, et al. Young Zanzibari Children with Iron Deficiency, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Stunting, or Malaria Have Lower Motor Activity Scores and Spend Less Time in Locomotion J. Nutr., December 1, 2007; 137(12): 2756 - 2762. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Wasantwisut, P. Winichagoon, C. Chitchumroonchokchai, U. Yamborisut, A. Boonpraderm, T. Pongcharoen, K. Sranacharoenpong, and W. Russameesopaphorn Iron and Zinc Supplementation Improved Iron and Zinc Status, but Not Physical Growth, of Apparently Healthy, Breast-Fed Infants in Rural Communities of Northeast Thailand J. Nutr., September 1, 2006; 136(9): 2405 - 2411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. K. Olney, E. Pollitt, P. K. Kariger, S. S. Khalfan, N. S. Ali, J. M. Tielsch, S. Sazawal, R. Black, L. H. Allen, and R. J. Stoltzfus Combined Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation with or without Zinc Reduces Time to Walking Unassisted among Zanzibari Infants 5- to 11-mo old J. Nutr., September 1, 2006; 136(9): 2427 - 2434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. B. Aydemir, R. K. Blanchard, and R. J. Cousins Zinc supplementation of young men alters metallothionein, zinc transporter, and cytokine gene expression in leukocyte populations PNAS, February 7, 2006; 103(6): 1699 - 1704. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M M. Gardner, C. A Powell, H. Baker-Henningham, S. P Walker, T. J Cole, and S. M Grantham-McGregor Zinc supplementation and psychosocial stimulation: effects on the development of undernourished Jamaican children Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2005; 82(2): 399 - 405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Chowanadisai, S. L. Kelleher, and B. Lonnerdal Zinc Deficiency Is Associated with Increased Brain Zinc Import and LIV-1 Expression and Decreased ZnT-1 Expression in Neonatal Rats J. Nutr., May 1, 2005; 135(5): 1002 - 1007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. V. Kuklina, U. Ramakrishnan, A. D. Stein, H. H. Barnhart, and R. Martorell Growth and Diet Quality Are Associated with the Attainment of Walking in Rural Guatemalan Infants J. Nutr., December 1, 2004; 134(12): 3296 - 3300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A Dijkhuizen, F. T Wieringa, C. E West, and Muhilal Zinc plus {beta}-carotene supplementation of pregnant women is superior to {beta}-carotene supplementation alone in improving vitamin A status in both mothers and infants Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1299 - 1307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. N. Ames Supplements and Tuning Up Metabolism J. Nutr., November 1, 2004; 134(11): 3164S - 3168S. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Lind, B. Lonnerdal, H. Stenlund, I. L Gamayanti, D. Ismail, R. Seswandhana, and L.-A. Persson A community-based randomized controlled trial of iron and zinc supplementation in Indonesian infants: effects on growth and development Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2004; 80(3): 729 - 736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. L. Ambrus Sr. and J. L. Ambrus Jr. Nutrition and Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries and Problems of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Experimental Biology and Medicine, June 1, 2004; 229(6): 464 - 472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. M. Black, S. Sazawal, R. E. Black, S. Khosla, J. Kumar, and V. Menon Cognitive and Motor Development Among Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants: Impact of Zinc Supplementation, Birth Weight, and Caregiving Practices Pediatrics, May 1, 2004; 113(5): 1297 - 1305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Black Micronutrient Deficiencies and Cognitive Functioning J. Nutr., November 1, 2003; 133(11): 3927S - 3931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Tamura, R. L Goldenberg, S. L Ramey, K. G Nelson, and V. R Chapman Effect of zinc supplementation of pregnant women on the mental and psychomotor development of their children at 5 y of age Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2003; 77(6): 1512 - 1516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. M. Black The Evidence Linking Zinc Deficiency with Children's Cognitive and Motor Functioning J. Nutr., May 1, 2003; 133(5): 1473S - 1476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D Hamadani, G. J Fuchs, S. J. Osendarp, F. Khatun, S. N Huda, and S. M Grantham-McGregor Randomized controlled trial of the effect of zinc supplementation on the mental development of Bangladeshi infants Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2001; 74(3): 381 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z. A Bhutta, S. M Bird, R. E Black, K. H Brown, J. M. Gardner, A. Hidayat, F. Khatun, R. Martorell, N. X Ninh, M. E Penny, et al. Therapeutic effects of oral zinc in acute and persistent diarrhea in children in developing countries: pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2000; 72(6): 1516 - 1522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. D. Wachs Nutritional deficits and behavioural development International Journal of Behavioral Development, December 1, 2000; 24(4): 435 - 441. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. G. Penland Behavioral Data and Methodology Issues in Studies of Zinc Nutrition in Humans J. Nutr., February 1, 2000; 130(2): 361 - 361. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. H. Sandstead, C. J. Frederickson, and J. G. Penland History of Zinc as Related to Brain Function J. Nutr., February 1, 2000; 130(2): 496 - 496. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Gadomski A Cure for the Common Cold?: Zinc Again JAMA, June 24, 1998; 279(24): 1999 - 2000. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Bentley, L. E. Caulfield, M. Ram, M. C. Santizo, E. Hurtado, J. A. Rivera, M. T. Ruel, and K. H. Brown Zinc Supplementation Affects the Activity Patterns of Rural Guatemalan Infants J. Nutr., July 1, 1997; 127(7): 1333 - 1338. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 ZINC INCREASES ACTIVITY LEVELS IN POORLY NOURISHED PRESCHOOLERS Journal Watch (General), December 31, 1996; 1996(1231): 9 - 9. [Full Text]
|
|
