scholarly journals Acquired Zinc Deficiency Mimicking Acrodermatitis Enteropathica in a Breast-Fed Premature Infant

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 444-449
Author(s):  
Giovanna D’Amico ◽  
Corinne De Laet ◽  
Guillaume Smits ◽  
Deborah Salik ◽  
Guillaume Deprez ◽  
...  

We present a case of a transient acquired zinc deficiency in a breast-fed, 4-month-old-male prematurely born infant, with acrodermatitis enteropathica-like symptoms such as crusted, eroded, erythemato-squamous eruption in periorificial and acral patterns. The laboratory investigations showed low zinc levels in the infant’s and the mother’s serum and in the mother’s milk; genetic analysis did not show any mutation in the SLC39A4 gene, involved in acrodermatitis enteropathica. Acquired zinc deficiency is often found in premature infants because of their increased requirement, the low serum and milk zinc levels in breastfeeding women being also an important risk factor, as in this case. A prompt zinc supplementation is essential for the good prognosis of the disease.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hironobu Hata ◽  
Yojiro Ota ◽  
Katsuhiko Uesaka ◽  
Yutaka Yamazaki ◽  
Tsubasa Murata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Zinc is mainly absorbed in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, which are removed during pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Little is known about the adverse oral events and skin disorders caused by zinc deficiency after PD. Herein, we reviewed studies regarding the development of zinc deficiency after PD and presented the case of a patient with zinc deficiency after PD, who required home intravenous zinc replacement.Case presentation: A 73-year-old woman with glossitis, taste disorder, and acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruption on her fingers presented to the Division of Dentistry and Oral Surgery 69 days after PD. Her serum zinc level markedly decreased to 30 μg/dL. Oral zinc administration was inadequate to treat hypozincemia after PD; therefore, multi-trace elements were injected intravenously under readmission. Her serum zinc levels recovered, and the lesions gradually improved. Furthermore, a central venous port was implanted to maintain normal serum zinc levels, and she continued self-injecting zinc at home.Conclusion: Zinc deficiency after PD rarely occurs. The clinical oncologist community, including dentists responsible for the oral care of cancer patients, should be aware of dysgeusia associated with zinc deficiency after cancer surgery, as well as that induced by chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (E) ◽  
pp. 394-397
Author(s):  
Rostika Flora ◽  
Nur Alam Fajar ◽  
Fatmalina Febri ◽  
Indah Yuliana ◽  
Yuliarti Yuliarti ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Children in rural areas are susceptible to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency in children can affect cognitive function in children. Zinc plays a role in cellular function and critical brain growth processes, including cell replication, DNA and RNA synthesis, and the release of neurotransmitters. AIM: This study aimed to analyze the condition of zinc deficiency and its relationship with the level of intelligence in children in rural areas. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional, with a sample of 44 elementary school children aged 9–12 years taken randomly. Blood was drawn to measure serum Zn-levels, and serum Zn-levels were measured using Colorimetric Assay Kit (E-BC-K137). Zinc intake data were obtained from the food recall form, which was carried out 3 × 24 h. The level of intelligence is measured by the Culture Fair Intelligence Test method. The sample characteristics data obtained through a questionnaire. Furthermore, the data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: About 84.2% of children with insufficient zinc intake had low serum Zn-levels. There was a significant relationship between zinc intake and serum zinc levels (p = 0.026; PR = 4.293). Children with low serum zinc levels of 96.5% have intelligence levels below average. There was a significant relationship between serum zinc levels and intelligence level as well (p = 0.001; PR = 24,500). CONCLUSION: Zinc deficiency in children is characterized by low serum Zn-levels. Low serum Zn-level is caused by low zinc intake, thus children with low serum Zn-levels are at risk of having intelligence level below average. Therefore, health education about the importance of zinc intake in children should be given to parents, so that the incidence of zinc deficiency in children can be reduced.


2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Retno Asih S ◽  
Endang Warsiki ◽  
Boerhan Hidajat

Background Zinc deficiency is common in children in develop-ing countries and data suggests the effects are detrimental towardschildren’s growth and neuropsychologic performance. Results ofmultiple studies which assess these effects have been inconsis-tent.Objective To evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation onnutritional status and cognition in children with zinc deficiency.Methods Forty-six stunted children aged 50-80 months with lowhair zinc levels were randomly assigned to receive either 7.5 mgelemental Zn or placebo twice a week for 3 months. Anthropom-etry and cognition were assessed at the beginning and the end ofthe supplementation period. Differences among both groups foranthropometry and cognition before and after supplementation wereanalyzed with paired t-test. A comparison of different anthropom-etry and cognition among the two groups were analyzed using theindependent t-test.Results There were no significant differences among baselinecharacteristics except on sex distribution.There was a significantdifference in weight for age between the zinc group and placebo[0.28 (SB 0.18) vs 0.09 (SB 0.14); P=0.0001]. Height incrementswere also greater in the zinc group [0.34 (SB 0.15) vs 0.02 (SB0.12); P=0.0001). There was no significant difference betweenweight for height. Intelligence quotient (IQ) measured by theStanford-Binnet test was slightly higher in the zinc group [2.26 (SB3.11) vs 2.00 (SB 2.81], but the difference was not significant ac-cording to sex.Conclusion Zinc supplementation produced highly positive re-sponses in weight for age and height for age increments in chil-dren with zinc deficiency compared with placebo. There was noeffect of zinc supplementation on weight for height index and noneon cognition measured by intelligence quotient (IQ)


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-412

Zinc deficiency can occur in infants and children as a result of inadequate dietary zinc intake, disturbed zinc metabolism secondary to numerous disease states, and an inherited defect in zinc metabolism in acrodermatitis enteropathica. In the latter condition, the effects of zinc therapy are dramatic and potentially lifesaving. Symptoms can also be severe in conditioned zinc deficiency states, and it is clinically important to recognize the need for zinc therapy in this condition. Clinically less severe, but probably much more widespread, is marginal nutritional zinc deficiency. Although the extent of this condition is unknown, some preventative measures have recently been undertaken, including zinc supplementation of "low-zinc" infant formulas and zinc fortification of some ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. But the effectiveness of these measures will have to be assessed. The possibility of zinc deficiency should be considered in infants and children whose growth percentile declines, even those who seem otherwise healthy.


1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 773-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.S. MUNRO ◽  
CAMILLE LAZARO ◽  
C.M. LAWRENCE

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S418
Author(s):  
J. Carnicer ◽  
G. Arca ◽  
C. Goyanes ◽  
I. Badell ◽  
E. Baselga ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumika Seki ◽  
Kota Ishizawa ◽  
Tetsuya Akaishi ◽  
Michiaki Abe ◽  
Koji Okamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Zinc is an essential micronutrient for maintaining biological activity. The level of zinc in the blood is known to decrease with age, especially in those over 75 years of age. In older adults patients with impaired functional status, aspiration pneumonia based on dysphagia often becomes problematic. However, the relationship between zinc deficiency and swallowing function has not been studied before. Methods A total of 52 older adults subjects (15 males and 37 females) living in a nursing home were enrolled for this study. At the time of enrollment, data of gender, age, body weight, serum zinc levels, serum albumin levels, and the time in a simple 2-step swallowing provocation test (S-SPT) were collected. In patients with serum zinc levels < 60 μg/dL, we initiated 2 months of oral zinc supplementation therapy with a 34 mg/day zinc load. Those who underwent zinc supplementation were re-evaluated after the treatment period and serum zinc levels and S-SPT time were measured. Results At the time of enrollment, serum zinc level was significantly correlated with serum albumin levels (Pearson’s R = 0.58, p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (Spearman’s rho = − 0.32, p = 0.0219). Twenty-five of the 52 patients had zinc deficiency with a serum zinc level < 60 μg/dL. After 2 months of oral zinc supplementation, both serum zinc levels (p < 0.0001) and time in the S-SPT (p = 0.04) significantly improved. Meanwhile, serum albumin level (p = 0.48) or body weight (p = 0.07) did not significantly change following zinc supplementation. Zinc supplementation significantly improved swallowing function, especially in the older adults who had comorbid dysphagia and zinc deficiency. Conclusions Zinc deficiency is associated with compromised swallowing function in older adults patients with impaired general functions. Oral zinc supplementation can alleviate dysphagia in older adults patients with zinc deficiency even though this is a retrospective study. Further study will be needed to confirm this positive effect.


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