Growth promoting effect of zinc supplementation in infants of high-risk pregnancies.

This study was made to determine whether zinc deficiency is one of the factors involved in growth retardation of infants of high-risk pregnancies. The high risk factors were hypertension of pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, congenital heart disease, chronic nephritis, rheumatic heart disease and hyperthyroidism. 102 neonatal infants were divided into 3 groups: breast fed group, 37 cases; test group, 32 cases formula-fed with supplementary zinc 1.14-2.28 mg/kg/d; and control group, 33 cases formula-fed and supplemented with Vitamin B complex as placebo. The groups were divided by double-blind and randomized method. There were no differences in the 3 groups in sex ratio, growth status and serum zinc concentration at the beginning of the study. Anthropometric data were obtained at 0, 3 and 6 months.