Italian Journal of Pediatrics (May 2012)

Effect of zinc supplementation on growth Hormone Insulin growth factor axis in short Egyptian children with zinc deficiency

  • Hamza Rasha T,
  • Hamed Amira I,
  • Sallam Mahmoud T

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-38-21
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 38, no. 1
p. 21

Abstract

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Abstract Background The relationship between zinc (Zn) and growth hormone-insulin growth factor (GH-IGF) system and how Zn therapy stimulates growth in children has not been clearly defined in humans. Thus, we aimed to assess GH-IGF axis in short children with Zn deficiency and to investigate the effect of Zn supplementation on these parameters. Methods Fifty pre-pubertal Egyptian children with short stature and Zn deficiency were compared to 50 age-, sex-, and pubertal stage- matched controls. All subjects were subjected to history, auxological assessment and measurement of serum Zn, IGF-1, insulin growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3); and basal and stimulated GH before and 3 months after Zn supplementation (50 mg/day). Results After 3 months of Zn supplementation in Zn-deficient patients, there were significant increases in height standard deviation score (SDS, P = 0.033), serum Zn (P Conclusion Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were low in short children with Zn deficiency, and increased after Zn supplementation for 3 months but their levels were still lower than the normal reference ranges in most children; therefore, Zn supplementation may be necessary for longer periods.

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