title: [Effect of zinc amino acid chelate and zinc sulfate in the incidence of respiratory infection and diarrhea among preschool children in child daycare centers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc deficiency is common in children among populations in developing areas. Zinc deficiency alters the immune system and the resistance to infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of two zinc compounds in the prevention of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized triple-blind community trial with 301 children between 2-5 years of age from six child daycare centers in Medellin, Colombia. Children were distributed in three groups receiving zinc amino acid chelate, zinc sulfate and placebo five days a week for 16 weeks. Daily symptoms of respiratory infection, acute diarrhea and side effects were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of respiratory infection was lower with zinc amino acid chelate (1.42 per 1,000 child-days) compared with placebo (3.3 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.196 to 0.950, p=0.049) and with zinc sulfate (1.57 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.90, 95% CI 0.382 to 2.153, p=0.999). The incidence of acute diarrhea with zinc amino acid chelate (0.15 per 1,000 child-days) was lower than with placebo (0.49 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.32, 95% CI 0.006 to 3.990, p=0.346) and with zinc sulfate (0.78 per 1,000 child-days) (RR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.0043 to 1.662, p=0.361).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zinc amino acid chelate had a better effect in reducing the incidence of acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea in preschool children when compared with the other groups.
authors: Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Sánchez
authors: Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Oscar Alonso
authors: OA
authors: Villada
authors: Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Maylen Liseth
authors: ML
authors: Rojas
authors: Dirección de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Montoya
authors: Cátedra de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Díaz
authors: Maestría en Epidemiologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES.
authors: Cristian
authors: C
authors: Vargas
authors: Centro de Investigación y Medición, PREMEX, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Chica
authors: Grupo de Investigación Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.
authors: An A Milena
authors: AA
authors: Herrera
mesh_terms: D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc