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The effects of supplementation of the diets of 6- to 12-year-old children in a village near Shiraz in Iran with zinc plus iron or iron alone, together with the indispensable amino acids in the form of egg white protein, vitamins, minerals, and corn oil have been evaluated. Initially 48 of 59 children had zinc concentrations below the minimum found in well-nourished persons. Eight months of supplementation with zinc plus iron (20 mg daily of elemental zinc as carbonate and 20 mg ferrous iron as fumarate) failed to stimulate growth or bone development or to bring about an increase in plasma zinc concentrations. However, supplementation with iron in the above amount was associated with an acceleration of growth in height and weight. The persistence of low concentrations of zinc in plasma and the failure of supplemental zinc to stimulate growth are attributed to the poor availability of both dietary and supplemental zinc resulting from sequestering action of fiber and phytate present in large amounts in the unleavened whole meal bread consumed by villagers. In addition, the results suggest that simultaneous administration of iron and zinc supplements may impair utilization of the metals.

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