Zinc and iron status and growth in healthy infants.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the relationships between growth and zinc and iron status in normal infants.


METHODS
Growth of normal infants (less than 3 y old: n = 66) was prospectively assessed with a mean delay of 24+/-6 weeks between measurements; subjects were free from illness and presented with a normal growth. Growth was compared to serum zinc (s-zinc), IGF-1 and iron status.


METHODS
Teaching hospital of Caen.


RESULTS
No relation was found between linear or weight growth and s-zinc; when taking into account the effect of age, linear growth was significantly associated with ferritin (P<0.001); weight gain was significantly correlated with IGF-1 (P = 0.034) and ferritin (P = 0.008). No relationship was found between s-zinc and iron status.


CONCLUSIONS
In normal infants iron status, more than serum zinc, seems to be correlated with growth.
Bouglé
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Laboratoire de Physiologie Digestive et Nutritionnelle and Service de Pédiatrie A, CHU de Caen, Caen, France.
Laroche
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Bureau
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D002675:Child, Preschool; D005602:France; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc