A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004;79(3):430-436) demonstrated that treatment with zinc reduces duration of fever and very ill status in boys with severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI). This type of infection is a major cause of morbidity and death in developing countries, so researchers deduce that any improvement can have a significant impact on mortality rates in children. In this study, the investigators examined the effect of both zinc and vitamin A based on prior work showing beneficial effects on the immune system.
Researchers in India enrolled 153 patients, who were hospitalized with severe ALRI and ranged in age from 2-24 months, in this randomized, placebo-controlled trial. They were divided into four treatment groups:
1) Zinc acetate (10mg elemental Zn twice daily for 5 days) plus a placebo for vitamin A,
2) Vitamin A as retinyl palmitate [10000ug retinol equivalents (RE) twice daily for 4 days] plus a placebo for zinc,
3) Zinc plus vitamin A according to the above schedule, or
4) Placebo for zinc and for vitamin A.
These patients were all treated with standard antibiotic therapy. The results showed that treatment with zinc significantly reduced the length of fever and improved feeding difficulty and recovery rate from very ill status in the boys, but not the girls, enrolled in the study. Vitamin A did not appear to have any significant effect on the measures of illness used in this study.
The authors cannot explain the effect of the child's sex on efficacy of treatment, however in light of this trend, they suggest prior trials be examined for the same effect. This study indicates zinc can be a powerful adjunct treatment of acute severe illness, at least in boys. As well, the treatment was deemed safe. Once again, simple supplementation with the mineral zinc is established as a potent part of a treatment protocol
Posted by Kristopher Foster on February 23, 2006 03:02 PM
