Zinc is an important micronutrient for humans and deficiency of zinc can affect their normal growth and development. The main objective of this study is to assess the outcome of two doses of zinc supplementation (ZS) on the nutritional status in chronic kidney disease (CKD) children.

A multicentric, randomized-trial was performed in 48 CKD patients under 18-years-old for one year. Among them 23 were females. Randomly, participants took 30 or 15 mg/day of ZS, respectively. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analysis were carried out. Hypozincemia was assessed by serum zinc concentration (SZC) by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The positive or negative variation in patients body mass index (BMI) Z-score, zinc and C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum albumin levels were done to assess the effect of ZS.

The outcome of the study showed that mean SZC was normal before and after zinc supplementation. There were no significant changes in serum albumin, zinc and CRP levels after zinc supplementation. A positive and important association was detected between SZC and serum albumin before and after zinc supplementation. There was a small but significant change in body mass and stabilization in BMI Z-score, hypozincemia, hypoalbuminemia and high CRP levels, particularly with 30 mg/day of zinc supplementation, in both the groups of ZS.

The study concluded that zinc supplementation might be beneficial for nutritional status in children and adolescents with CKD.

Source: Escobedo-Monge MF, Ayala-Macedo G, Sakihara G, Peralta S, Almaraz-Gómez A, Barrado E, Marugán-Miguelsanz JM. Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Nutritional Status in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Trial. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 5;11(11):2671. doi: 10.3390/nu11112671. PMID: 31694220; PMCID: PMC6893698.