title: Effect of short term zinc supplementation on iron status of children with acute diarrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of short term (2 wk) zinc supplementation on hemoglobin and iron status of children with acute diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a prospective, open label, single arm interventional trial conducted from June 2008 through October 2009 in a teaching hospital of North India. Three to sixty months old children presenting with acute diarrhea participated in the study. Subjects were supplemented with recommended doses of oral zinc gluconate for 2 wk. Changes in levels of hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin were the main outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two patients completed the study successfully. The prevalence of anemia before and after 2 wk of zinc supplementation remained unchanged. However, a small decline (p > 0.05) was observed in mean hemoglobin (from 8.95 ± 1.4 to 8.73 ± 1.43 g/dL), serum iron (79.56 ± 45.81 to 78.61 ± 44.41 μg/dL) and ferritin (84.77 ± 45.35 to 83.55 ± 44.10 ng/mL) levels. Total iron binding capacity increased from 331.60 ± 109.72 to 341.30 ± 119.90 μg/dL post supplementation (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though statistically insignificant, the small change observed in the levels of hemoglobin, and indicators of iron status following short term zinc supplementation might assume significance in some settings in developing countries where children receive short courses of zinc repeatedly for frequent diarrheal episodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India, zzrab@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Zeeba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zaka-ur-Rab
authors.forename: Syed Moiz
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naim
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adnan
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005942:Gluconates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron; C030691:gluconic acid