title: Serum level of zinc in asthmatic patients: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypozincemia could lead to a variety of defects in growth and the immune system, while it seems to be associated with increased rate of asthmatic attacks in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed to assess the serum zinc level in 100 paediatric asthmatic patients in comparison with a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum level of zinc in the asthmatic patients was 70.5±22.6 μg/dL, which was significantly lower than 80.9±16.9 μg/dL in the control group (p<0.001). Forty-two asthmatic patients (42%) had hypozincemia, while this rate was 12% in healthy children (p<0.001). There was a significant association between the zinc level and severity of asthma (p<0.001). However, no significant association was detected between the serum level of zinc and other factors, including control and treatment of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As for high rate of hypozincemia in the asthmatic children, evaluation of serum zinc level in asthmatic children could be suggested, while zinc substitution in the diet of those with hypozincemia could be recommended.
authors: Department of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: khanbabaeegh@yahoo.com.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Khanbabaee
authors: Department of Pediatric Diseases, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Omidian
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Diseases, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Imanzadeh
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Diseases, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Adibeshgh
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ashayeripanah
authors: Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Molecular Immunology Research Center; and Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Rezaei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000178:diet therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc
keywords: Asthma; Children; Zinc