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Zinc Study (June 7, 1998)

A dietary supplement of zinc could bring a dramatic drop in respiratory infections among our children. A study published this afternoon by the American Academy of Pediatrics is good news for parents and schools. Science Specialist Ed Yeates has the story from Primary Children's Hospital.

The journal Pediatrics says a zinc supplement could reduce the incidence of childhood pneumonia by up to 45%.

Researchers from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore evaluated more than 600 infants and children. The study used a carefully controlled group on a zinc dietary supplement - and the results were dramatic.

Though researchers evaluated children in India, other studies claim all children, even those in this country may not be getting enough zinc in their diets.

The study did NOT surprise dietitians at Primary Children's Hospital.

KATIE MCDONALD, CERTIFIED DIETITIAN, PCMC: "THAT WE FIND AT LEAST ONE OUT OF THREE, ONE OUT OF FOUR OF THE CHILDREN WOULD BE MARKEDLY DEFICIENT IN THEIR ZINC INTAKE FOR THE CHILDREN THAT WE SEE."

Dosages of zinc given to the study group were NOT high - certainly far from the concentrated amounts found in the controversial and unproven zinc lozenges. In fact the children were given only trace amounts of the mineral - the minimum required dosage found in a balanced diet.

"FOR MANY OF THE CHILDREN AND SOME OF THE DIETARY RECORDS THAT I SEE, THEY LIVE ON CHIPS AND CANDY AND COOKIES AND THEY DON'T EAT THE KIND OF BALANCED DIET THAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDED."

The authors claim their study substantiates other findings that zinc benefits a child's growth and strengthens the immune system.

Again, the study talks about only the minimum requirement for zinc. Too much zinc can do just the opposite - reducing the body's ability to fight off infections.