title: Effect of antenatal zinc supplementation on impetigo in infants in Bangladesh.
abstract: We sought to determine the effects of maternal zinc supplementation on skin infections among infants in poor urban areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was conducted among 199 and 221 Bangladeshi infants whose mothers were administered 30 mg daily of zinc or placebo, respectively. The mothers received zinc supplementation from 12-16 weeks' gestation until delivery, and the infants were followed up until 6 months of age. Among the infants of mothers who received zinc supplementation during the antenatal period, 10.6% had at least 1 episode of impetigo compared with 19.6% of the infants of mothers in the placebo group (P = 0.01). Infants in the treatment group had a 54% reduction in incidence rate of episodes of impetigo when compared with infants in the placebo group (P = 0.01). The effect of zinc supplementation was more pronounced among male infants (64% reduction) and intrauterine growth restricted and low birth weight infants (73% reduction) and among infants of mothers with increased parity (60% reduction) or decreased socioeconomic status (71% reduction).
authors.affiliation: International Center for Advancing Neonatal Health, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. gary.darmstadt@gatesfoundation.org
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Darmstadt
authors.forename: Saskia J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Osendarp
authors.forename: Saifuddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Joop M A
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Van Raaij
authors.forename: Abdullah H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baqui
authors.forename: J G A J
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hautvast
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007169:Impetigo / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D015032:Zinc