A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF DIETARY
ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH PROTEIN-ENERGY
MALNUTRITION IN LESOTHO
Makonnen B.1 Venter A.1
Joubert G2
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, UOFS, Bloemfontein,
SA1
Department of Biostatistics, UOFS, Bloemfontein, SA2
Introduction: Protein
Energy Malnutrition (PEM) remains on of the common causes of morbidity and
mortality among children throughout the world. To prolong life and to prevent morbidity many advances
have been made in the treatment of PEM. Advances in the knowledge of micro-nutrients have led to
improved dietary management of PEM.
Methodology: The
supplementation with 10mg element zinc, as zinc sulphate, was evaluated in
the management of PEM in a randomized, controlled clinical trial on 300
children, 6 to 60 months of age (Zinc, n= 150, Control, n = 150) admitted
to the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Maseru, Lesotho. Supplementation and
follow-up were done for 3 months post discharge for the Hospital.
Results: Mortality during
hospitalization was 4.7% in the Zinc Supplemented Group, compared to 16.7%
in the Control group, which was statistically significant. The prevalence of morbidity was
significant higher in the Control group at 1, 2 and 3 month��s
follow-up. After 90 days
supplementation, mean Zinc was 10.1 in the Zinc group, compared to 7.8 in
the Control group. In the Zinc
group 58% of the children were above the 80th percentile of
expected weight for age 3 months after statistically significant. The effect of Human Immune
deficiency Virus in these outcomes was also explored.
Conclusion: Dietary zinc
supplementation resulted in a reduction in mortality and diarrhoeal
diseases, respiratory morbidity, episodes of anaemia, skin infections,
fever as well as vomiting in children with PEM. These findings suggest that interventions to improve
zinc intake in their management may be of benefit to Basotho children in
Lesotho with PEM.