Nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children

  • Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas Lopes Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
  • Naira Josele Neves de Brito Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
  • Érika Dantas de Medeiros Rocha Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
  • Mardone Cavalcante França Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
  • Maria das Graças de Almeida Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
  • José Brandão-Neto Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
Keywords: zinc supplementation, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis, phase angle, dietary assessment, children

Abstract

Background: Zinc is an essential nutrient that is required for numerous metabolic functions, and zinc deficiency results in growth retardation, cell-mediated immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.

Objective: This study evaluated nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children.

Design: We performed a randomised, controlled, triple-blind study. The children were divided into a control group (10% sorbitol, n=31) and an experimental group (10 mg Zn/day, n=31) for 3 months. Anthropometric and dietary assessments as well as bioelectrical measurements were performed in all children.

Results: Our study showed (1) an increased body mass index for age and an increased phase angle in the experimental group; (2) a positive correlation between nutritional assessment parameters in both groups; (3) increased soft tissue, and mainly fat-free mass, in the body composition of the experimental group, as determined using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis; (4) increased consumption of all nutrients, including zinc, in the experimental group; and (5) an increased serum zinc concentration in both groups (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: Given that a reference for body composition analysis does not exist for intervention studies, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate vector migration during zinc supplementation. These results reinforce the importance of employing multiple techniques to assess the nutritional status of populations.

Keywordszinc supplementation; bioelectrical impedance vector analysis; phase angle; dietary assessment; children

(Published: 26 Octoer 2015)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2015, 59: 29733 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v59.29733

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Author Biographies

Márcia Marília Gomes Dantas Lopes, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

MSc.; Fellow PhD degree

Naira Josele Neves de Brito, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

MSc.; PhD

Érika Dantas de Medeiros Rocha, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

MSc.; PhD

 

Mardone Cavalcante França, Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

PhD; Associate Professor

Maria das Graças de Almeida, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

PhD; Associate Professor

José Brandão-Neto, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

MD, PhD; Full Professor

Published
2015-10-26
How to Cite
Dantas Lopes M. M. G., de Brito N. J. N., Rocha Érika D. de M., França M. C., de Almeida M. das G., & Brandão-Neto J. (2015). Nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children. Food & Nutrition Research, 59. https://doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v59.29733
Section
Original Articles