title: Effect of zinc supplementation on body mass index and serum levels of zinc and leptin in pediatric hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zinc is an essential trace element for human nutrition, and its deficiency is associated with anorexia, poor food efficiency, growth retardation, and impaired neurological and immune systems. The zinc-deficiency rate is particularly high in many disease states, such as with end-stage renal disease patients undertaking hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of zinc and leptin in pediatric hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective clinical trial study in which 60 hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into two groups: group I received 50-100 mg zinc sulfate (equivalent to 11-22 mg elemental zinc) according to age, sex, and nutritional status of the child; and group II received placebo (cornstarch) twice daily for 90 days. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and serum zinc and leptin levels were determined by colorimetric test with 5-Br-3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, at days 0 and 90 of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zinc supplementation resulted in a significant increase in mean serum zinc level and BMI. Serum leptin decreased significantly after supplementation in children under hemodialysis. A significant negative correlation was observed between serum zinc and leptin levels as a result of zinc supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an increase in serum zinc level and BMI and decreased serum leptin after zinc supplementation in children under hemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Nabih
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: El-Shazly
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Soha Abd El-Hady
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ghada Mohamed
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: El-Mashad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Jehan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sabry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nashwa Said
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sherbini
keywords: body weight; hemodialysis; serum leptin; serum zinc