The Effect of Zinc Consumption on Cell Immunity in Healthy 6 years old children

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to determine the effect of zinc consumption on cell immunity in healthy 6-year-old children. In a double-blind clinical trial after the license of parents, 40 children 6-7 years old were enrolled. The male healthy and 6-7-year-old children were included and those with chronic disease, failure to thrive, and usage of another zinc supplement in the past two months, were excluded. In the case group (N=20), twenty mg of zinc sulfate syrup has been prescribed orally for 6 months. The control group (N=20) received a placebo the same as the case group in the volume, color, bottle size, and shape. Serum zinc level and cellular proliferation were measured before intervention and 12 hours after the last dose of zinc sulfate. Zinc serum was measured by manual colorimetric method technique. A zinc level of less than 65 ug/dl is considered zinc deficiency. The lymphocyte proliferation before and after zinc treatments have been compared by paired T-test analysis. Results:The mean weight of children in the case and control group were 20.37±2.21kg and 20.92±1.98 kg respectively (P= >0.05). Serum zinc level was within the normal limit and did not differ between the two groups before and after intervention (P=0.86). After 6 months of supplementation of 20 mg zinc sulfate per day for 6 months, there were no significant improvements in Lymphocyte proliferation (with/without PHA). Conclusion: This study indicates that moderate supplementation of zinc for six months cannot efficiently improve Lymphocyte proliferation (with/without PHA) in healthy male children.

Keywords

• zinc consumption
• cell immunity
• children