title: Effect of zinc supplementation on development and growth of Chilean infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on growth and development during infancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomized 150 term neonates of low socioeconomic status to receive supplemental zinc 5 mg/d (SG) or a lactose placebo (PG); 112 completed a 1-year follow-up. All were breast-fed and given cow milk formula after weaning; solid foods and iron were added at 5 months. Anthropometry measured monthly, psychomotor development (PDI), mental development (MDI), and behavior including motor quality factor were assessed by Bayley Scales at 6 and 12 months. The groups were comparable in maternal characteristics, birth weight, home environment, and mother-infant interaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No effects of zinc on weight, length, and weight for length at 12 months were found controlling for sex and breast-feeding. The mean PDI (SG: 84.5 +/- 11.5 vs PG: 87.6 +/- 9.9) and MDI (90.9 +/- 10.5 vs 88.9 +/- 9.1) were similar; however, 46 of 52 infants in the PG scored <100 in MDI vs 42 of 57 in the SG (P <.05). A smaller proportion of the SG, 2 of 57, scored low in motor quality factor at 6 months compared with the PG, 8 of 52 (P =.02). The mean at 12 months for the SG was 31.9 +/- 2.8 and for the PG 30.8 +/- 2.9 (P <.05); zinc supplementation entered the multiple regression at 12 months (P =.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zinc supplementation may have a beneficial effect on mental development and motor quality behavior of healthy term infants.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo-Durán
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Hertrampf
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Icaza
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc