title: Effects of zinc supplementation in the prevention of respiratory tract infections and diarrheal disease in Colombian children: A 12-month randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Among the preventive strategies for lowering the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and acute diarrhoea episodes, two of the most common diseases in children, zinc supplementation has received special interest. However, there is a need for additional studies that determine the preventive effects of different doses of zinc on URTI and diarrhoeal disease episodes in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised, triple-blind clinical trial, we evaluated the efficacy of 12 months of daily zinc supplementation in the incidence of URTI and acute diarrhoea in a population of healthy children aged between 6 and 12 months living in Bogota, Colombia. The outcomes analysed were incidence of URTI, acute diarrhoeal disease episodes, and side effects of the interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2010 and 2013, a total of 355 children underwent randomisation, with 174 assigned to the zinc supplementation group and 181 to the control group. In the multivariate analyses, having been randomised to the non-supplemented control group (IRR 1.73, 95% CI 1.52-1.97, p<0.001), and nursery attendance (IRR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.87, p=0.016) were independently linked to the number of URTI. Likewise, having been randomised to the non-supplemented group (IRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.20-1.71, p<0.001), and lower socioeconomic status (IRR 1.86, 95% CI 1.11-3.13, p=0.018) were independently associated to the number of diarrhoeal disease episodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily supplementation of 5mg of zinc during 12 months significantly decreased the incidence of URTI and diarrhoeal disease episodes in a healthy population of children aged between 6 and 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Martinez-Estevez
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Guevara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia; Research Unit, Military Hospital of Colombia, Bogota, Colombia; Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad El Bosque, Bogota, Colombia. Electronic address: carerodriguezmar@unal.edu.co.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Martinez
mesh_terms: D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Children; Diarrhoea; Prophylaxis; Upper respiratory tract infection; Zinc supplementation