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American Academy of Pediatrics
Article

Zinc Supplementation in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age Reduces Mortality: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Sunil Sazawal, Robert E. Black, Venugopal P. Menon, Pratibha Dinghra, Laura E. Caulfield, Usha Dhingra and Adeep Bagati
Pediatrics December 2001, 108 (6) 1280-1286; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.108.6.1280
Sunil Sazawal
*Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
‡Center for Micronutrient Research, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
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Robert E. Black
*Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Venugopal P. Menon
‡Center for Micronutrient Research, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
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Pratibha Dinghra
‡Center for Micronutrient Research, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
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Laura E. Caulfield
*Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Usha Dhingra
‡Center for Micronutrient Research, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
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Adeep Bagati
§Ranbaxy Research Laboratories, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
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Abstract

Background. Low birth weight infants have been noted to have low zinc concentrations in cord blood, and zinc deficiency in childhood is associated with reduced immunocompetence and increased infectious disease morbidity. This study investigates whether zinc supplementation of infants born full term and small for gestational age affects mortality.

Methods. A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with 2-by-2 factorial design enrolled 1154 full-term small for gestational age infants to receive in syrup 1 of the following: riboflavin; riboflavin and zinc (5 mg as sulfate); riboflavin, calcium, phosphorus, folate, and iron; or riboflavin, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, folate, and iron. A fixed dosage of 5 mL per child was given daily from 30 to 284 days of age. Household visits were made 6 days per week to provide the syrup and conduct surveillance for illness and death. When a child’s death was reported, parental reports and medical records were used to ascertain the cause. The effects of zinc and of the combination of iron, folate, calcium, and phosphorus were analyzed by intent to treat. The mortality analysis was performed using a survival analytic approach that models time until death as the dependent variable; all models had 2 terms as independent variables: 1 for the zinc effect and 1 for the vitamin and mineral (calcium and phosphorus, folate and iron) effect.

Results. Zinc supplementation was associated with significantly lower mortality, with a rate ratio of 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.89). Calcium, phosphorus, folate, and iron supplementation was not associated with a mortality reduction, although a statistically nonsignificant trend toward reduction was observed with a rate ratio of 0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.36–2.15).

Conclusion. Zinc supplementation in small for gestational age infants can result in a substantial reduction in infectious disease mortality.

  • zinc
  • micronutrients
  • mortality
  • randomized trial
  • Received February 16, 2001.
  • Accepted July 24, 2001.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics

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Pediatrics
Vol. 108, Issue 6
1 Dec 2001
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Zinc Supplementation in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age Reduces Mortality: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Sunil Sazawal, Robert E. Black, Venugopal P. Menon, Pratibha Dinghra, Laura E. Caulfield, Usha Dhingra, Adeep Bagati
Pediatrics Dec 2001, 108 (6) 1280-1286; DOI: 10.1542/peds.108.6.1280

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Zinc Supplementation in Infants Born Small for Gestational Age Reduces Mortality: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Sunil Sazawal, Robert E. Black, Venugopal P. Menon, Pratibha Dinghra, Laura E. Caulfield, Usha Dhingra, Adeep Bagati
Pediatrics Dec 2001, 108 (6) 1280-1286; DOI: 10.1542/peds.108.6.1280
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Subjects

  • Nutrition
    • Nutrition

Keywords

  • zinc
  • micronutrients
  • mortality
  • randomized trial
  • LBW, low birth weight
  • SGA, small for gestational age
  • WHO, World Health Organization
  • PI, Ponderal Index
  • RR, rate ratio
  • CI, confidence interval
  • RDA, recommended daily allowance
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