OBJECTIVES: To determine whether continuing with zinc supplementation after zinc treatment (ZT) of an acute diarrhoea episode will result in additional clinical benefits beyond ZT alone. METHODS:Children 6-23 months of age, living in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh with acute childhood diarrhoea (ACD), were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind field trial. All children received 10 days of ZT (20 mg/day) and were then randomized to zinc (10 mg/day) or placebo supplementation for 3 months. Weekly follow-up of all children occurred over a period of 9 months. RESULTS:A total of 353 subjects were enrolled, with 93% of the zinc supplemented and 96% of the placebo children followed for 9 months. The incidence density of ACD among those receiving zinc supplementation compared to those receiving placebo was reduced by 28% (2.64 vs.3.66 episodes/p-y follow-up) over the 3 months while on supplementation and by 21% (2.05 vs.2.59 episodes/p-y follow-up) over the 9 months of follow-up. There was no observed effect on the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) or on growth. CONCLUSIONS:Zinc supplementation after treatment provides additional preventive ACD benefits to children in early childhood. Larger, effectiveness trials of this strategy are warranted.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine whether continuing with zinc supplementation after zinc treatment (ZT) of an acute diarrhoea episode will result in additional clinical benefits beyond ZT alone. METHODS:Children 6-23 months of age, living in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh with acute childhood diarrhoea (ACD), were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind field trial. All children received 10 days of ZT (20 mg/day) and were then randomized to zinc (10 mg/day) or placebo supplementation for 3 months. Weekly follow-up of all children occurred over a period of 9 months. RESULTS: A total of 353 subjects were enrolled, with 93% of the zinc supplemented and 96% of the placebo children followed for 9 months. The incidence density of ACD among those receiving zinc supplementation compared to those receiving placebo was reduced by 28% (2.64 vs.3.66 episodes/p-y follow-up) over the 3 months while on supplementation and by 21% (2.05 vs.2.59 episodes/p-y follow-up) over the 9 months of follow-up. There was no observed effect on the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) or on growth. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation after treatment provides additional preventive ACD benefits to children in early childhood. Larger, effectiveness trials of this strategy are warranted.
Authors: Patricia B Pavlinac; Rebecca L Brander; Hannah E Atlas; Grace C John-Stewart; Donna M Denno; Judd L Walson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2018-02-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: K Ryan Wessells; Kenneth H Brown; Sengchanh Kounnavong; Maxwell A Barffour; Guy-Marino Hinnouho; Somphou Sayasone; Charles B Stephensen; Kethmany Ratsavong; Charles P Larson; Charles D Arnold; Kimberly B Harding; Gregory A Reinhart; Ganjana Lertmemongkolchai; Supan Fucharoen; Robin M Bernstein; Sonja Y Hess Journal: BMC Nutr Date: 2018-11-29