Comparison of Serum Zinc Status with Severity of Protein Energy Malnutrition among Children under Five Years

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Authors

  • Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam ,IN
  • Department of Biochemistry, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam ,IN

Abstract

Zinc is second to iron as the most abundant trace element of the body and it is an important trace element in human beings, particularly among growing children. Zinc deficiency is among the 10 most important factors that lead to increased morbidity and mortality in developing countries. WHO annual report of 2002, underlined that insufficient intake of zinc leads to zinc deficiency and gave directions for introducing zinc additions into daily nutrition. One of the earliest studies showed that zinc supplementation increased weight gain in children recovering from severe malnutrition four to twelve weeks after hospital admission.