Zinc supplementation in infants with asymmetric intra uterine growth retardation; effect on growth, nutritional status and leptin secretion.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the effect of zinc supplementation in growth and nutritional status of a homogeneous group of newborns with intra uterine growth retardation and asymmetric growth. The effect of changes of zinc status on growth and leptin serum concentrations was also analysed.


METHODS
A double blind, randomised clinical trial was designed in order to detect differences in growth between zinc and placebo groups during the first 6 months of life. 31 infants were included either to the zinc group (n = 14) (38.8+/-1.4 weeks GA, 2,171+/-253 g body weight) or the placebo group (n = 17) (38.9+/-1.1 weeks GA, 2,249+/-220 g body weight). The zinc group received a supplement of 3 mg elemental zinc per day (as zinc sulphate).


RESULTS
There were not significant differences between groups for anthropometric measurements through the study period. We found a significant effect of the study group, in hair zinc concentrations, but not in serum zinc concentrations; post-hoc comparisons for hair zinc revealed that there were significant differences between groups at 1, 2, and 6 months of age. Changes in serum and hair zinc concentrations from baseline to 6 months, showed significant correlations with changes in weight/age and length/age z-scores, in the supplement group. Changes in leptin serum concentrations during follow-up, showed significant correlations with changes in sum of 4 skinfolds and weight/age z-score, in the placebo group. Changes in hair zinc concentration through the study period showed significant correlations with changes in leptin serum concentrations from baseline to 6 months of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
In a homogeneous group of intra uterine growth retardation infants with asymmetric growth, 3 mg/day zinc supplementation do not show significant improvements in weight and length growth. Changes in zinc status were related with changes in weight and length during the first 6 months of life. Changes in leptin serum concentrations were related with changes in the anthropometric indices of body fat accretion.
Bueno
O
O
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España.
Bueno
G
G
Moreno
L A
LA
Nuviala
R J
RJ
Pérez-González
J M
JM
Bueno
M
M
D002657:Child Development; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D020738:Leptin; D015032:Zinc