Effect of zinc on thymus of recently malnourished children.
Zinc-deficient animals and children have thymic atrophy and an increased susceptibility to infections. Children with protein-energy malnutrition similarly have thymic atrophy, zinc deficiency, and increased susceptibility to infections. 8 children, recently malnourished, who were supplemented with zinc, showed an increase in thymic size as judged radiographically. It is suggested that zinc deficiency may play a part in the thymic atrophy and infections associated with malnutrition.
D001284:Atrophy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015032:Zinc