Zinc or multiple micronutrient supplementation to reduce diarrhea and respiratory disease in South African children: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prophylactic zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce diarrhea and respiratory illness in children in many developing countries, but its efficacy in children in Africa is uncertain.

Objective

To determine if zinc, or zinc plus multiple micronutrients, reduces diarrhea and respiratory disease prevalence.

Design

Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Setting

Rural community in South Africa.

Participants

THREE COHORTS: 32 HIV-infected children; 154 HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-infected mothers; and 187 HIV-uninfected children born to HIV-uninfected mothers.

Interventions

Children received either 1250 IU of vitamin A; vitamin A and 10 mg of zinc; or vitamin A, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K and copper, iodin

SUBMITTER: Luabeya KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1891438 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature