Bahl R, Bhandari N, Hambidge K M, Bhan M K
ICMR Advanced Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Aug;68(2 Suppl):414S-417S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/68.2.414S.
The association between low initial plasma zinc concentration and risk of morbidity over the subsequent 3 mo was examined in a cohort of 116 children aged 12-59 mo recovering from acute diarrhea. Children with low initial plasma zinc (< or = 8.4 micromol/L) had more episodes of diarrhea [risk ratio (RR): 1.47; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.49) and severe diarrhea, defined as passage of > or = 5 liquid stools in a 24-h period, (RR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.72) than did children with normal plasma zinc (> 8.4 micromol/L). The mean prevalence rate of diarrhea associated with fever was 4 times higher in the zinc-deficient group (P = 0.01). Overall, the difference in the number of episodes of acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) between the two groups was not statistically significant (RR: 1.76; 95% CI: 0.88-3.53) but the mean prevalence rate of ALRIs was 3.5 times higher in children with low plasma zinc (P = 0.05). The increased risk of diarrhea and ALRIs episodes in zinc-deficient children was larger in boys than in girls. These results show that children with low plasma zinc concentrations are at risk for increased diarrheal and respiratory morbidity.
在一组116名年龄在12至59个月、正从急性腹泻中恢复的儿童中，研究了初始血浆锌浓度低与随后3个月发病风险之间的关联。初始血浆锌浓度低（≤8.4微摩尔/升）的儿童比血浆锌浓度正常（>8.4微摩尔/升）的儿童腹泻发作次数更多[风险比（RR）：1.47；95%置信区间：1.03，2.49]，且严重腹泻（定义为24小时内排出≥5次稀便）的发作次数更多（RR：1.70；95%置信区间：1.06，2.72）。锌缺乏组中与发热相关的腹泻平均患病率高出4倍（P = 0.01）。总体而言，两组之间急性下呼吸道感染（ALRIs）发作次数的差异无统计学意义（RR：1.76；95%置信区间：0.88 - 3.53），但血浆锌浓度低的儿童中ALRIs的平均患病率高出3.5倍（P = 0.05）。锌缺乏儿童腹泻和ALRIs发作风险增加在男孩中比在女孩中更大。这些结果表明，血浆锌浓度低的儿童有腹泻和呼吸道发病率增加的风险。
