Gastroenterol Res

Gastroenterology Research, ISSN 1918-2805 print, 1918-2813 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Gastroenterol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.gastrores.org

Original Article

Volume 2, Number 3, June 2009, pages 168-174

Effect of Zinc Supplementation in Children with Acute Diarrhea: Randomized Double Blind Controlled Trial

Figure 1. Flow diagram of a trial of zinc supplementation in children with acute diarrhea. * LAMA- Leave against medical advice

**Table 1.** Baseline characteristics of zinc supplemented and placebo group children
Variables	Zinc supplemented group (n = 44)	Placebo group (n = 44)
Age in months
6 - 12	19	43.2	17	38.6
13 – 36	18	40.9	18	40.9
37 – 60	7	15.9	9	20.5
Sex of child
Male	23	52.3	16	36.4
Female	21	47.7	28	63.6
Socioeconomic status
Upper	12	27.3	20	45.5
Middle	18	40.9	14	31.8
Lower	14	31.8	10	22.7
Diarrhea frequency/day on admission
≤ 5	4	9.1	2	4.5
6 - 10	8	18.2	13	29.6
> 10	32	72.7	29	65.9
No. of days for diarrhea on admission
≤ 7	41	93.2	41	93.2
8 – 14	3	6.8	3	6.8
Diarrhea with fever
Yes	18	40.9	15	34.1
No	26	59.1	29	65.9
Diarrhea with vomiting
Yes	36	81.8	36	81.8
No	8	18.2	8	18.2

Table 1. Baseline characteristics of zinc supplemented and placebo group children

Variables

Zinc supplemented group (n = 44)

Placebo group (n = 44)

No.

Age in months

6 - 12

43.2

38.6

13 – 36

40.9

37 – 60

15.9

20.5

Sex of child

Male

52.3

36.4

Female

47.7

63.6

Socioeconomic status

Upper

27.3

45.5

Middle

40.9

31.8

Lower

31.8

22.7

Diarrhea frequency/day on admission

≤ 5

9.1

4.5

6 - 10

18.2

29.6

> 10

72.7

65.9

No. of days for diarrhea on admission

≤ 7

93.2

8 – 14

6.8

Diarrhea with fever

Yes

40.9

34.1

59.1

65.9

Diarrhea with vomiting

Yes

81.8

18.2

**Table 2.** Impact of zinc supplementation on frequency of stool per day during follow up as per mean ± SD
Age group	Zinc supplementation group (n = 44)	Placebo group (n = 44)
* Indicates p < 0.01, percent reduction in frequency of stool/day- Zinc: 62%, Placebo: 26%, difference: 36%.
6-12	9.05 ± 4.89	3.75 ± 2.59*	2.90 ± 1.92*	11.19 ± 7.21	8.57 ± 7.78	3.4 ± 3.53*
13-36	11.78 ± 7.25	3.89 ± 2.91*	1.92 ± 1.32*	11.89 ± 9.64	8.37 ± 6.39	3.54 ± 3.47*
37-60	8.28 ± 7.25	5.4 ± 3.43	1.91 ± 1.21*	7.77 ± 2.10	6.5 ± 1.92	3.59 ± 3.43
Total	10.7 ± 6.38	4.06 ± 2.82*	2.32 ± 1.58*	10.86 ± 7.71	8.05 ± 6.26	3.40 ± 3.34*

Table 2. Impact of zinc supplementation on frequency of stool per day during follow up as per mean ± SD

Age group

Zinc supplementation group (n = 44)

Placebo group (n = 44)

Day 1

Day 3

Day 5

Day 1

Day 3

Day 5

* Indicates p < 0.01, percent reduction in frequency of stool/day- Zinc: 62%, Placebo: 26%, difference: 36%.

6-12

9.05 ± 4.89

3.75 ± 2.59*

2.90 ± 1.92*

11.19 ± 7.21

8.57 ± 7.78

3.4 ± 3.53*

13-36

11.78 ± 7.25

3.89 ± 2.91*

1.92 ± 1.32*

11.89 ± 9.64

8.37 ± 6.39

3.54 ± 3.47*

37-60

8.28 ± 7.25

5.4 ± 3.43

1.91 ± 1.21*

7.77 ± 2.10

6.5 ± 1.92

3.59 ± 3.43

Total

10.7 ± 6.38

4.06 ± 2.82*

2.32 ± 1.58*

10.86 ± 7.71

8.05 ± 6.26

3.40 ± 3.34*

**Table 3.** Impact of zinc supplementation on amount of stool/day during management of acute diarrhea as per mean ± SD
Age group	Zinc supplementation group (n = 44)	Placebo group (n = 44)
*Indicates p <0.05, percent reduction in stool output/day, Zinc: 45%, Placebo: 0%, difference: 45%.
6-12	161.8 ± 195.5	116.4 ± 18.8	43.8 ± 31.9*	164.7 ± 182.4	226.7 ± 419.5	158.0 ± 239.0
13-36	345.5 ± 296.2	181.1 ± 220	103.3 ± 78.1*	232.7 ± 273.2	195.1 ± 187.4	139.7 ± 147.9
37-60	261.0 ± 232.0	77 ± 54.3	113.3 ± 118.4	68.7 ± 46.1	38.6 ± 51.8	131.2 ± 163.5
Total	259.6 ± 272.2	144.4 ± 175*	80.7 ± 72.8*	173.4 ± 215.9	183.9 ± 292.9	148.8 ± 192.3

Table 3. Impact of zinc supplementation on amount of stool/day during management of acute diarrhea as per mean ± SD

Age group

Zinc supplementation group (n = 44)

Placebo group (n = 44)

Day 1

Day 3

Day 5

Day 1

Day 3

Day 5

*Indicates p <0.05, percent reduction in stool output/day, Zinc: 45%, Placebo: 0%, difference: 45%.

6-12

161.8 ± 195.5

116.4 ± 18.8

43.8 ± 31.9*

164.7 ± 182.4

226.7 ± 419.5

158.0 ± 239.0

13-36

345.5 ± 296.2

181.1 ± 220

103.3 ± 78.1*

232.7 ± 273.2

195.1 ± 187.4

139.7 ± 147.9

37-60

261.0 ± 232.0

77 ± 54.3

113.3 ± 118.4

68.7 ± 46.1

38.6 ± 51.8

131.2 ± 163.5

Total

259.6 ± 272.2

144.4 ± 175*

80.7 ± 72.8*

173.4 ± 215.9

183.9 ± 292.9

148.8 ± 192.3