title: Efficacy of zinc sulfate supplement on febrile seizure recurrence prevention in children with normal serum zinc level: A randomised clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum zinc level might be related to pathogenesis of febrile seizure (FS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of oral zinc supplementation on FS recurrence prevention in non-zinc-deficient children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized clinical study, one hundred 18 to 60 mo old children with normal zinc level with first simple FS were referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran from May 2012 to June 2013, were randomly assigned to two groups to receive 2 mg/kg/d zinc sulfate for six consecutive months or placebo as control group and were followed up for 1 y for FS recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  41 girls and 59 boys with mean age of 2.47 ± 1.01 y were evaluated. Race, mean weight, height and body fat were similar in both groups. FS recurrence occurred in 19 children (38%) in the control group [95% confidence interval (CI): 19.45%-53.95%] and in 11 children (22%) in the zinc sulfate (95% CI: 57.47%-89.13%) groups, respectively; and the zinc group had lower FS recurrence (P = 0.03). The mean serum zinc level before intervention was lower in children with FS recurrence (72.43 ± 14.58 μg/dL versus 96.33 ± 12.69 μg/dL, P = 0.04). Gastrointestinal side effects (vomiting in five children, heartburn in two children and abdominal pain in one child) were seen in 16% of the zinc group and vomiting occurred in two children (4%) in control group and frequency of adverse events was similar in the two groups (P = 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Zinc supplementation should be considered as effective and safe in prevention of FS recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric neurologist, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Growth Disorders of Children Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.affiliation: Interne, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeideh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabbaghzadegan
authors.affiliation: Pediatrician, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Growth Disorders of Children Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Sedighah Akhavan
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Karbasi
authors.affiliation: Pathologist, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Electronic address: binesh44@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Binesh
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Child; Febrile seizure; Febrile seizure recurrence; Prevention; Zinc sulfate