Effect of Zinc Supplementation on GH, IGF1, IGFBP3, OCN, and ALP in Non-Zinc-Deficient Children.

OBJECTIVE: Because most publications on growth and development deal with children with zinc deficiency, we decided to study the effects of this micronutrient on the secretion of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), osteocalcin (OCN), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in healthy and eutrophic children. This study is original because the methodology was unique. METHODS: Forty schoolchildren participated in the study, 17 females and 23 males, aged 8 and 9 years. The study was carried out during a 3-month period. It was characterized as a triple-blind randomized controlled trial. The children were divided in a control group (20 schoolchildren using 10% sorbitol) and experimental group (20 schoolchildren using zinc). All were submitted to oral zinc supplementation (10 mg Zn/day) and venous zinc administration (0.06537 mg Zn/kg of body weight). Blood samples were collected at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 210 min. All schoolchildren were also submitted to anthropometric, clinical, and dietetic assessments as well as biochemistry analyses. RESULTS: Oral zinc supplementation in the experimental group (1) stimulated an increase in the consumption of protein and fat (p = 0.0007, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively), (2) increased basal serum zinc (p < 0.0001), (3) increased plasma ALP (p = 0.0270), and (4) showed a positive correlation for IGF1, IGFBP3, and OCN, comparing before and after oral zinc supplementation (p = 0.0011, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0446, respectively). During zinc administration, plasma IGF1 and IGFBP3 increased significantly in the experimental group (p = 0.0468, p < 0.0001, respectively). Plasma GH increased in the experimental group but without statistical difference comparing before and after oral zinc supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation stimulated an increase in the consumption of some macronutrients and basal serum zinc and improved plasma alkaline phosphatase levels. Zinc administration increased hormones of the GH-IGF1 system.

Sensitivity of zinc kinetics and nutritional assessment of children submitted to venous zinc tolerance test.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to investigate the kinetics of zinc in schoolchildren between the ages of 6 and 9 years, of both sexes, and to verify its sensitivity in detecting alterations in body zinc status. METHODS: Nutritional assessment was performed by body mass index. Food intake, venous zinc tolerance test, and zinc kinetics were carried out before and after 3-month oral zinc supplementation. RESULTS: Of the 42 children studied, 76.2% had healthy weight. Only energy, calcium, and fiber intake were suboptimal before and after oral zinc supplementation. Serum zinc and total-body zinc clearance, although at normal levels, increased significantly after zinc supplementation. CONCLUSION: We concluded, therefore, that kinetics is a sensitive tool for detecting changes in body zinc status, even in children without a deficiency of this mineral. Furthermore, kinetics showed a positive response to supplementation and may be a sensitive parameter for evaluating the efficacy of this therapy.

Independent effect of type of breastfeeding on overweight and obesity in children aged 12-24 months. / Efeito independente do tipo de aleitamento no risco de excesso de peso e obesidade em crianças entre 12-24 meses de idade.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of type of breastfeeding on the nutritional status of children between 12-24 months of age. This cohort study included 435 children born in 2012 in a public hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Two years after delivery the mothers and their children were contacted in their homes for a new investigation of demographic, economic, nutritional, and anthropometric data. In the unadjusted analysis, children who were not exclusively breastfed were more likely to be overweight (including obesity) at 2 years of age (OR = 1.6; p = 0.049) than exclusively breastfed children. After adjusting for several covariates, children who were not exclusively breastfed had a 12% higher risk of overweight including obesity compared to unadjusted analysis (OR = 2.6 vs. OR = 1.8; p = 0.043). In addition, birthweight was also an independent determinant of overweight including obesity (OR = 2.5; p = 0.002). The practice of exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of overweight in children from developing countries such as Brazil.

Acompanhamento dos atendimentos de puérperas e recém-nascidos em um Banco de Leite Humano / Seguimiento de la atención de puérperas y recién nacidos en un Banco de Leche Humana / Follow-up of the care of postpartum women and newborns in a Human Milk Bank

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a associação entre as características maternas e o acompanhamento dos atendimentos no Banco de Leite Humano (BLH) à puérpera e ao recém-nascido internado. Método Pesquisa transversal, quantitativa, realizada em uma maternidade pública da Região Sul do Brasil nos meses de Julho a Dezembro de 2017. Utilizado um formulário estruturado para coleta dos dados. Para as análises, testes de associação de Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher. Resultados Ao total, 316 mães fizeram parte do estudo. Os motivos principais para encaminhamento ao BLH foram perda de peso do recém-nascido e dificuldade na pega. Foram encontradas associações estatisticamente significativas entre o acompanhamento do banco de leite humano e as variáveis idade materna (18-23 anos: 58,1%; 24-29 anos: 63,8%; 30-35 anos: 78,9%; 36-41 anos: 71,8% e 42-47 anos: 85,7%; p=0,036), raça/cor materna (parda: 47,2%; branca: 68,9%; preta: 77,8%; p=0,031), tipo de parto (normal: 61,0%; cesárea: 75,2%; p=0,011). Conclusão e Implicações para Prática As mães com idade mais avançada, de raça/cor preta e com filhos nascidos de parto cesárea foram as que fizeram maiores procuras e acompanhamentos ao banco de leite humano da maternidade. Os resultados encontrados poderão contribuir para o planejamento, monitoramento e elaboração de estratégias para ações em aleitamento materno.

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar la asociación entre las características maternas con el seguimiento de las atenciones en el Banco de Leche Humana (BLH) a la puérpera y al recién nacido internado. Método Investigación transversal, cuantitativa, realizada en una maternidad pública de la Región Sur de Brasil entre julio y diciembre de 2017. Utilizado formulario estructurado para recolección de datos. Para los análisis, test de asociación de Qui-Cuadrado o Exacto de Fisher. Resultados Al total, 316 madres formaron parte del estudio. Los motivos principales para el encaminamiento al BLH fueron la pérdida de peso del recién nacido y la dificultad en el agarre. Se encontraron asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre el seguimiento del BLH y las variables edad materna (18-23 años: 58,1%; 24-29 años: 63,8%; 30-35 años: 78,9%; 36-41años; 71,8% e 42-47años: 85,7%; p=0,036), raza/color materna (parda: 47,2%; blanca: 68,9%; negra: 77,8%; p=0,031), tipo de parto (normal:61,0%; cesárea:75,2%; p=0,011). Conclusión e Implicaciones para la Práctica Madres con edad avanzada, raza/color negra y con hijos nacidos de parto por cesárea, hicieron mayores búsquedas y acompañamientos al BLH de la maternidad. Los resultados encontrados pueden contribuir a la planificación, monitoreo y elaboración de nuevas estrategias para acciones en lactancia materna.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the association between maternal characteristics and assistance services provided by a Human Milk Bank (HMB) to women in the puerperal period and their hospitalized newborns. Methods A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted at a public maternity in southern Brazil between July and December of 2017. It was used a structured form for data collection. The statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-Square for association or Fisher's Exact test. Results In total, 316 mothers were part of this study. The main reasons were weight loss of the newborn and difficulty in handling. Statistically significant associations were found between follow up services from HMB and mother's age (18-23 years old: 58.1%; 24-29: 63.8%; 30-35: 78.9%; 36-41: 71.8%, and 42-47: 85.7%; p = 0.036), mother's race/color (brown: 47.2%; white: 68.9%; black: 77.8%; p = 0.031), and type of delivery (normal: 61,0%; caesarean section: 75.2%; p = 0.011). Conclusion and implications for practice Mothers of older age, who were black and with children born by cesarean section were the ones who sought more often and had most follow-ups at the HMB of the maternity. The results found may contribute to the planning, monitoring and elaboration of strategies for breastfeeding actions.

Nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children.

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential nutrient that is required for numerous metabolic functions, and zinc deficiency results in growth retardation, cell-mediated immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated nutritional assessment methods for zinc supplementation in prepubertal non-zinc-deficient children. DESIGN: We performed a randomised, controlled, triple-blind study. The children were divided into a control group (10% sorbitol, n=31) and an experimental group (10 mg Zn/day, n=31) for 3 months. Anthropometric and dietary assessments as well as bioelectrical measurements were performed in all children. RESULTS: Our study showed (1) an increased body mass index for age and an increased phase angle in the experimental group; (2) a positive correlation between nutritional assessment parameters in both groups; (3) increased soft tissue, and mainly fat-free mass, in the body composition of the experimental group, as determined using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis; (4) increased consumption of all nutrients, including zinc, in the experimental group; and (5) an increased serum zinc concentration in both groups (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Given that a reference for body composition analysis does not exist for intervention studies, longitudinal studies are needed to investigate vector migration during zinc supplementation. These results reinforce the importance of employing multiple techniques to assess the nutritional status of populations.

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis for evaluating zinc supplementation in prepubertal and healthy children.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of abnormal nutritional status has increased in children and adolescents. Nutritional assessment is important for monitoring the health and nutritional status. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) combines changes in tissue hydration and structure and body composition that can be assessed. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to use BIVA to evaluate nutritional status in 60 prepubertal children, aged between 8 and 9 years, supplemented with zinc, to detect possible changes in body composition. DESIGN: We performed a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. The children were divided into the control group (CG; sorbitol 10%, n=29) or the experimental group (EG; 10 mg Zn/day, n=31), and the duration of the experiment was 3 months. Anthropometric assessments were performed for all of the children. RESULTS: The body mass index-for-age increased after oral zinc supplementation in the EG (p=0.005). BIVA indicated that the CG demonstrated a tendency for dehydration and decreased soft tissue and the EG demonstrated a tendency for increased soft tissue, primarily the fat-free mass. After analyses of BIVA ellipses, we observed that this method could detect improvements in body composition in healthy children supplemented with zinc. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that BIVA could be an auxiliary method for studying a small population undergoing zinc intervention.

Oral zinc supplementation decreases the serum iron concentration in healthy schoolchildren: a pilot study.

The recognized antagonistic actions between zinc and iron prompted us to study this subject in children. A convenience sample was used. Thirty healthy children between 8 and 9 years of age were studied with the aim of establishing the effect of a 3-mo oral zinc supplementation on iron status. Fifteen individuals were given a placebo (control group), and 15 were given 10 mg Zn/day (experimental group). Blood samples were collected at 0, 60, 120, 180 and 210 min after a 12-h overnight fast, before and after placebo or zinc supplementation. This supplementation was associated with significant improvements in energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, calcium, iron, and zinc intake in accordance with the recommendations for age and sex. The basal serum zinc concentration significantly increased after oral zinc supplementation (p < 0.001). However, basal serum iron concentrations and area under the iron curves significantly decreased in the experimental group (p < 0.0001) and remained at the same level throughout the 210-min study. The values obtained for hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, ferritin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, ceruloplasmin and total protein were within normal reference ranges. In conclusion, the decrease in serum iron was likely due to the effects of chronic zinc administration, and the decrease in serum iron was not sufficient to cause anemia.

Kinetics of zinc status and zinc deficiency in Berardinelli-Seip syndrome.

Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSS) is a very rare disorder characterized by near-complete absence of adipose tissue from birth or early infancy, hypoleptinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, and other clinical signals. It is caused by mutations in AGPAT2 or Gng3lg. We evaluated 10 BSS patients and 10 healthy subjects. A single dose of 382.43 µmol zinc was administered intravenously before and after 3 months of oral zinc supplementation. Blood samples were collected from the contralateral arm at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after zinc injection. Plasma and serum were obtained to measure hematological and biochemical parameters. Urine was collected to measure creatinine, protein, and zinc. Basal serum zinc levels were similar in controls and BSS patients. However, serum zinc profiles were significant reduced in BSS patients in comparison with controls. The change in total-body zinc clearance was more significant in BSS patients, indicating that these patients had suboptimum zinc deficiency.

Efeito independente do tipo de aleitamento no risco de excesso de peso e obesidade em crianças entre 12-24 meses de idade / Efecto independiente del tipo de lactancia en el riesgo de exceso de peso y obesity en niños entre 12-24 meses de edad / Independent effect of type of breastfeeding on overweight and obesity in children aged 12-24 months

Resumo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a importância do tipo de aleitamento no risco de excesso de peso de crianças entre 12-24 meses de idade. Trata-se de um estudo de coorte que incluiu 435 crianças nascidas em 2012 em uma maternidade pública de Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Dois anos após o parto, as mães e seus filhos foram contatados nas residências para uma nova coleta de dados. Na análise não ajustada, crianças que não receberam aleitamento materno exclusivo apresentaram maior risco de desenvolver excesso de peso aos dois anos de idade (OR = 1,6; p = 0,049), quando comparadas às crianças amamentadas exclusivamente. Mesmo após o ajuste para diversas covariáveis, o risco das crianças não amamentadas exclusivamente apresentarem excesso de peso aumentou 12% em relação à análise não ajustada (OR = 2,6 vs. OR = 1,8; p = 0,043). Adicionalmente, o peso ao nascer também mostrou ser um determinante independente do risco de excesso de peso (OR = 2,5; p = 0,002). A prática do aleitamento materno exclusivo pode reduzir o risco de excesso de peso em crianças de países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil.

Resumen: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la importancia del tipo de lactancia en el riesgo de exceso de peso de niños entre 12-24 meses de edad. Se trata de un estudio de cohorte que incluyó a 435 niños nacidos en 2012, en una maternidad pública de Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Tras dos años después del parto, se contactó con las madres y sus hijos en sus residencias para una nueva recogida de datos. En el análisis no ajustado, los niños que no recibieron exclusivamente el pecho materno presentaron mayor riesgo de desarrollar exceso de peso a los dos años de edad (OR = 1,6; p = 0,049), cuando se comparan con los niños amamantados exclusivamente. Incluso tras el ajuste para diversas covariables, el riesgo de que los niños no amamantados exclusivamente presentaran exceso de peso aumentó un 12%, en relación con el análisis no ajustado (OR = 2,6 vs. OR = 1,8; p = 0,043). Asimismo, el peso al nacer también mostró ser un determinante independiente del riesgo de exceso de peso (OR = 2,5; p = 0,002). La práctica de dar exclusivamente el pecho puede reducir el riesgo de exceso de peso en niños de países en desarrollo como Brasil.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the effect of type of breastfeeding on the nutritional status of children between 12-24 months of age. This cohort study included 435 children born in 2012 in a public hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Two years after delivery the mothers and their children were contacted in their homes for a new investigation of demographic, economic, nutritional, and anthropometric data. In the unadjusted analysis, children who were not exclusively breastfed were more likely to be overweight (including obesity) at 2 years of age (OR = 1.6; p = 0.049) than exclusively breastfed children. After adjusting for several covariates, children who were not exclusively breastfed had a 12% higher risk of overweight including obesity compared to unadjusted analysis (OR = 2.6 vs. OR = 1.8; p = 0.043). In addition, birthweight was also an independent determinant of overweight including obesity (OR = 2.5; p = 0.002). The practice of exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of overweight in children from developing countries such as Brazil.