Effects of separate delivery of zinc or zinc and vitamin A on hemoglobin response, growth, and diarrhea in young Peruvian children receiving iron therapy for anemia.
BACKGROUND
Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency in the world. Attempts to improve iron indexes are affected by deficiency of and interaction between other micronutrients.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to assess whether zinc added to iron treatment alone or with vitamin A improves iron indexes and affects diarrheal episodes.


METHODS
This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted in Peru. Anemic children aged 6-35 mo were assigned to 3 treatment groups: ferrous sulfate (FS; n = 104), ferrous sulfate and zinc sulfate (FSZn; n = 109), and ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, and vitamin A (FSZnA; n = 110). Vitamin A or its placebo was supplied only once; iron and zinc were provided under supervision >/=1 h apart 6 d/wk for 18 wk.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anemia was 42.97%. The increase in hemoglobin in the FS group (19.5 g/L) was significantly less than that in the other 2 groups (24.0 and 23.8 g/L in the FSZn and FSZnA groups, respectively). The increase in serum ferritin in the FS group (24.5 mug/L) was significantly less than that in the other 2 groups (33.0 and 30.8 mug/L in the FSZn and FSZnA groups, respectively). The median duration of diarrhea and the mean number of stools per day was significantly higher in the FS group than in other 2 groups (P < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Adding zinc to iron treatment increases hemoglobin response, improves iron indexes, and has positive effects on diarrhea. No additional effect of vitamin A was found.
Alarcon
Karl
K
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
Kolsteren
Patrick W
PW
Prada
Ana M
AM
Chian
Ana M
AM
Velarde
Ruth E
RE
Pecho
Iris L
IL
Hoeree
Tom F
TF
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D019287:Zinc Sulfate