Kikafunda J K, Walker A F, Allan E F, Tumwine J K
Department of Food Science and Technology, Statistical Services Centre, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, United Kingdom.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1998 Dec;68(6):1261-6. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/68.6.1261.
Despite ample food supplies, the incidence of childhood underweight and stunting remains high in Uganda. Many factors contribute to this situation, but the role of low zinc intakes has not been adequately explored.
Our objective was to study the effect of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition of preschool children by using the outcome measures of weight, height, and midupper arm circumference (MUAC).
The study was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, and 8 mo long, and incorporated 6 mo of zinc supplementation. Children (n = 153) aged 55.8 +/- 11.2 mo from 3 randomly selected nursery schools of medium, low, and very low socioeconomic status in a suburb of Kampala took part. The intervention comprised 10 mg Zn (as ZnSO4) or placebo daily in freshly prepared fruit juice, Monday to Friday inclusive.
Zinc supplementation increased MUAC by the end of the study (P = 0.029) and led to greater weight gain in children from the school of medium socioeconomic status at 3 and 8 mo (P = 0.019 and P = 0.038, respectively). There was no effect on weight gain of the children from the other schools. Zinc supplementation had no influence on height. Infection rates (of which 82% were recorded as malaria) were lower in the zinc-supplemented group than in control subjects (P = 0.063).
Zinc supplementation may counter the age-related decrease in MUAC often observed in preschool children in developing countries. The study provides evidence that zinc may not be the most limiting nutrient for weight gain in children of poor nutritional status, but may become so as nutritional status improves.
尽管乌干达有充足的食物供应，但儿童体重不足和发育迟缓的发生率仍然很高。许多因素导致了这种情况，但低锌摄入量的作用尚未得到充分研究。
我们的目的是通过使用体重、身高和上臂中部周长（MUAC）等结果指标，研究补锌对学龄前儿童生长和身体成分的影响。
该研究为随机、双盲、安慰剂对照、平行设计，为期8个月，其中包括6个月的补锌期。来自坎帕拉郊区3所随机选择的社会经济地位中等、低和极低的幼儿园的153名年龄为55.8±11.2个月的儿童参与了研究。干预措施为周一至周五每天在新鲜制备的果汁中服用10毫克锌（以硫酸锌形式）或安慰剂。
到研究结束时，补锌使MUAC增加（P = 0.029），并使社会经济地位中等的学校的儿童在3个月和8个月时体重增加更多（分别为P = 0.019和P = 0.038）。对其他学校儿童的体重增加没有影响。补锌对身高没有影响。补锌组的感染率（其中82%记录为疟疾）低于对照组（P = 0.063）。
补锌可能抵消发展中国家学龄前儿童中经常观察到的与年龄相关的MUAC下降。该研究提供的证据表明，锌可能不是营养状况较差儿童体重增加的最限制性营养素，但随着营养状况的改善可能会成为最限制性营养素。
