Effects of zinc supplementation as adjunct therapy on the systemic immune responses in shigellosis

Background Zinc is lost during diarrheal diseases, and zinc deficiency induces intestinal morphology-altering inflammatory responses that zinc supplementation can correct. Objective We assessed the in vivo effect of zinc supplementation on systemic and mucosal responses in mildly to moderately malnourished (defined as -2 and -3 weight-for-height z scores, respectively, based on the National Center for Health Statistics growth reference) children with shigellosis. Design A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in Shigella flexneri-infected children aged 12-59 mo. Daily for 14 d, elemental zinc (20 mg) and multivitamins (vitamins A and D, thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinamide) plus calcium were given at twice the US recommended dietary allowance to the zinc group (n=28), and multivitamins plus calcium were given to the control group…