Plasma vitamin A, zinc and selenium concentrations in children with acute and persistent diarrhoea.

Plasma zinc, selenium, and vitamin A concentrations in 25 children with persistent diarrhoea (PD) and acute diarrhoea (AD) were determined and compared with 25 age-matched control children. Plasma retinol concentrations (PRC) and plasma zinc concentrations (PZC) (3.92 micrograms/dL and 79.4 micrograms/dL respectively) were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) in children with PD. PZCs were also significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in children with AD. However, reduction in PZC was more in PD than that in AD. There was no significant difference in PSC in children with either types of diarrhoea as compared with the control group. The results of the study showed that there was deficiency of vitamin A and zinc in diarrhoeas which needs to be correlated for proper nutritional management.