ZINC
ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION DECREASES CHILDHOOD INFECTIONS
Researchers in the US analysed ten trials from nine developing
countries which assessed the effects of oral zinc in apparently
healthy children under 5 years of age. In the continuous
trials, pooled odds ratios for diarrhoeal incidence and
prevalence were 0.82 and 0.75 respectively, in the zinc-supplemented
group compared with controls. Children who took zinc supplements
also had an odds ratio of 0.59 for pneumonia. Although the
findings highlight the role of zinc supplementation in the
management of common infectious diseases in developing countries,
copper depletion and interactions with other micronutrients
have not been adequately studied. Also, zinc may be seen
as another magic bullet like vitamin A, leading to commercial
exploitation, which south Asian economies cannot afford.
Ahmad, K
LANCET 1999, 354 (9195) 2057
IMPACT OF TRACE ELEMENTS AND VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON
IMMUNITY AND INFECTIONS IN INSTITUTIONALISED ELDERLY PATIENTS
It is well known that ageing is often associated with a
poor immune response, particularly the cell-mediated response,
and substantial vulnerability to respiratory tract infections.
Nutritional status has been recognised as a strong factor
in immune impairment, especially in elderly persons in institutions,
but there have been few large trials in elderly people that
have included end points for clinical variables.
Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the effects
of long-term daily supplementation with trace elements (zinc
sulphate and selenium sulfide) or vitamins (beta-carotene,
ascorbic acid, and vitamin E) on immunity and the incidence
of infections in institutionalised elderly people. Patients
received an oral daily supplement of nutritional doses of
trace elements or vitamins or a placebo for 2 years. Correction
of specific nutrient deficiencies was observed after 6 months
of supplementation and was maintained for the first year.
The number of patients without respiratory tract infections
during the study was higher in groups that received trace
elements.
Thus, low-dose supplementation of zinc and selenium provides
significant improvement in elderly patients by increasing
the humoral response after vaccination and could have considerable
public health importance by reducing morbidity from respiratory
tract infections.
Girodon, F. et al
ARCH.INTERN.MED. 1999, 159 (7) 748-54
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