Transient symptomatic zinc deficiency in a breastfed infant associated with low zinc levels in maternal serum and breast milk improving after zinc supplementation: An uncommon phenotype?

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.

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Unique presentation of transient zinc deficiency from low maternal breast milk zinc levels

Pediatric Dermatology ◽

10.1111/pde.13349 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 255-256

Author(s):

Tina Tang ◽

Joseph M. Lam

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Zinc Levels

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Effects of zinc supplementation on nutritional status and cognition in children

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi46.2.2006.64-70 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 64

Author(s):

Retno Asih S ◽

Endang Warsiki ◽

Boerhan Hidajat

Keyword(s):

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Intelligence Quotient ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Supplementation Period ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

The Difference ◽

Zinc Levels ◽

Performance Results ◽

Weight For Age

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)

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Comparison of maternal serum and neonatal cord blood levels of zinc in relation to birth weight and period of gestation

International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ◽

10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20212880 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 1349

Author(s):

Shabbeer Ahmed ◽

Avula Kanthi Sagar

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Serum Zinc ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Blood Levels ◽

P Value ◽

Zinc Levels ◽

Blood Zinc ◽

Serum Zinc Levels

Background: Women are at increased risk of zinc deficiency during pregnancy because of high fetal requirements for zinc. Severe maternal zinc deficiency has been associated with poor fetal growth, spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations (i.e., anencephaly), whereas milder forms of zinc deficiency have been associated with low birth weight (LBW), intrauterine growth retardation, and preterm delivery. However, the research relating maternal zinc status and birth weight has not produced consistent results. This study has been undertaken to confirm the association between maternal serum zinc concentration and birth weight and period of gestation in setting like India.Methods: A total of 100 new-borns were included and divided into two groups, the ‘study group’ had babies with birth weight <2.5 kg and control group’ with babies >2.5 kg birth weight. Cord blood from the new-borns and serum samples of mothers were collected and the zinc levels were measured.Results: The correlation of cord blood and the maternal serum zinc levels were assessed in relation to birth weight and the gestational age. The results were compared between the two groups. The difference in values between the two groups was statistically significant, maternal serum zinc levels and birth weight (84.78±21.62 vs 66.04±18.66) (‘P’ value 0.04), cord blood zinc levels and birth weight (98.44±22.59 vs 79.78±19.54) (‘P’ value <0.001). The maternal serum and cord blood zinc was compared between the preterm and term; the results were statistically significant.Conclusions: The maternal and cord blood levels of zinc are correlated well with the birth weight and the gestational age at delivery. Supplementation of zinc during gestation might help reduce the incidence of IUGR and the risk of prematurity.

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Retrospective study revealed that Zn relate to improvement of swallowing function in the older adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02224-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yumika Seki ◽

Kota Ishizawa ◽

Tetsuya Akaishi ◽

Michiaki Abe ◽

Koji Okamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Serum Zinc ◽

Zinc Level ◽

Serum Zinc Level ◽

Swallowing Function ◽

Zinc Levels ◽

Serum Zinc Levels

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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Improved Swallowing Function after Zinc Supplementation in the Elderly

10.21203/rs.3.rs-115572/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yumika Seki ◽

Kota Ishizawa ◽

Tetsuya Akaishi ◽

Michiaki Abe ◽

Okamoto Koji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Elderly Patients ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Serum Zinc ◽

The Elderly ◽

Zinc Level ◽

Swallowing Function ◽

Zinc Levels ◽

Serum Zinc Levels

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 elderly 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 elderly 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 elderly who had comorbid dysphagia and zinc deficiency.Conclusions: Zinc deficiency is associated with compromised swallowing function in elderly patients with impaired general functions. Oral zinc supplementation can alleviate dysphagia in elderly patients with zinc deficiency.

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A Case of Acquired Zinc Deficiency due to Low Zinc Concentration in Maternal Breast Milk

Nishi Nihon Hifuka ◽

10.2336/nishinihonhifu.70.402 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 70 (4) ◽

pp. 402-405 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chie HIRABE ◽

Chisato HOSOKAWA ◽

Masakazu TAKAHARA ◽

Satoko SHIBATA ◽

Satoshi TAKEUCHI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Zinc Deficiency ◽

Zinc Concentration

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Impact of Maternal Daily Oral Low-Dose Vitamin A Supplementation on the Mother–Infant Pair: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial in China

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072370 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2370

Author(s):

Ye Ding ◽

Ping Hu ◽

Yue Yang ◽

Fangping Xu ◽

Fang Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Breast Milk ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Low Dose ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Control Group ◽

Vitamin A Supplementation ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

Vitamin A Status ◽

Lactating Mothers

Background: The nutritional status of vitamin A in lactating mothers and infants is still not optimistic. Due to the dietary habits and dietary restrictions of postpartum customs in China, vitamin A supplementation has been advocated as a potential strategy to improve vitamin A status of lactating mothers with inadequate dietary vitamin A intake. Existing clinical trials are limited to single or double high-dose maternal administrations. However, in China, vitamin A supplements are readily available in the form of daily oral low-dose supplements, and the effect of these is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily oral low-dose vitamin A supplementation on the retinol levels in the serum and breast milk of lactating mothers and the health status of infants in China. Methods: Lactating mothers who met the inclusion criteria and planned to continue exclusive breastfeeding were randomly assigned to receive either daily oral vitamin A and D drops (one soft capsule of 1800 IU vitamin A and 600 IU vitamin D2), or a matching placebo for 2 months. Before and after the intervention, dietary intake was investigated by instant photography, and the retinol concentration in maternal serum and breast milk was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. During the trial, the health status of infants was diagnosed by a paediatrician or reported by lactating mothers. A total of 245 participants completed the study, with 117 in the supplementation group and 128 in the control group. Results: After the 2-month intervention, maternal serum retinol concentrations increased in the supplementation group with no change in the control group. Although breast milk retinol concentrations decreased significantly in both groups, the decrease in the supplementation group was significantly lower than that in the control group. However, maternal vitamin A supplementation was not associated with a lower risk of infant febrile illness, respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, and eczema. Conclusions: Daily oral low-dose vitamin A supplementation is helpful in improving maternal vitamin A status, despite having no effect on infant health status through breast milk.

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