The Effect of Adjuvant Zinc Therapy on Recovery from Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives. Pneumonia is one of the common mortality causes in young children. Some studies have shown beneficial effect of zinc supplements on treatment of pneumonia. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of short courses of zinc administration on recovery from this disease in hospitalized children. Methods. In a parallel Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial at Ayatollah Golpaygani Hospital in Qom, 120 children aged 3–60 months with pneumonia were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive zinc or placebo (5 mL every 12 hours) along with the common antibiotic treatments until discharge. Primary outcome was recovery from pneumonia which included the incidence and resolving clinical symptoms and duration of hospitalization. Results. The difference between two groups in all clinical symptoms at admittance and the variables affecting the disease such as age and sex were not statistically significant (P < 0.05) at baseline. Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group showed a statistically significant decrease in duration of clinical symptoms (P = 0.044) and hospitalization (P = 0.004). Conclusions. Supplemental administration of zinc can expedite the healing process and results in faster resolution of clinical symptoms in children with pneumonia. In general, zinc administration, along with common antibiotic treatments, is recommended in this group of children. It can also reduce the drug resistance caused by multiple antibiotic therapies. This trial is approved by Medical Ethic Committee of Islamic Azad University in Iran (ID Number: 8579622-Q). This study is also registered in AEARCTR (The American Economic Association's Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials). This trial is registered with RCT ID: AEARCTR-0000187.

Micronutrients Deficiency, a Hidden Hunger in Nepal: Prevalence, Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

“…Supplementation depends upon a viable delivery system with built-in quality control, as well as wide coverage and high acceptance rates among vulnerable individuals and families [ 9 ]. Moreover, supplemental administration of zinc can expedite the healing process and results in faster resolution of clinical symptoms in children with pneumonia [ 38 ]. In Iran, the government has been supplementing iron to school girls and has started supplying vitamin D to them [ 39 ].…”

Zinc against COVID-19? Symptom surveillance and deficiency risk groups

“…Multiple human trials have shown conflicting evidence for zinc supplementation improving outcomes in patients with pneumonia. In some cases, zinc supplementation shortened the duration of viral infections and improved outcomes in children with lower respiratory infections [ 60 , 96 – 98 ] but not in others [ 99 ], and even in some cases for elderly patients with pneumonia [ 100 ] but not in others [ 52 ]. In addition to undernourished children and the elderly, vegan and vegetarian populations are particularly susceptible to zinc deficiency, as plant-based diets will contain more phytates which are known to interfere with zinc bioabsorption [ 44 , 45 , 101 , 102 ].…”

Comparing the Effects of Zinc Supplementation as Adjunct to the Conventional Therapy and Placebo on Morbidity in Children with Pneumonia Between Ages 1 Year to 5 Years

“…Zinc supplementation given with empiric antimicrobial therapy significantly shortened the duration of hospital stay for young children with pneumonia [22]. Iqbal et al also reported similar results from Pakistani children [23], Qasemzadeh et al from Iran reported significant decrease was found in the duration of hospitalization and recovery from severe pneumonia symptoms in zinc receiving children [24]. In contrast two trails from Nepal demonstrated that adjuvant zinc neither reduced the risk of treatment nor hasten the recovery from non-severe or severe pneumonia in Nepalese children in the age group of 2-35 months of age [20].…”