Linear and knemometric growth in the early phase of rehabilitation from severe malnutrition.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Zinc Sulfate.

The relationship between ponderal, linear and lower leg growth in children recovering from severe malnutrition remains unclear.

Mean (sd) weight for height (WHZ) and height for age (HAZ) catch-up growth z scores over the 90 d were 1.6 (0.85) and 0.47 (0.325) respectively.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 141 children were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were infants and young children.

The researchers report on the early growth of 141 severely malnourished Bangladeshi children aged 6 to 36 months of age who were followed for 90 d.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and double-blind.

The children were allocated by chance, so the Zinc Sulfate group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Neither the children nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Zinc Sulfate, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

What Was Measured

Mean (sd) weight for height (WHZ) and height for age (HAZ) catch-up growth z scores over the 90 d were 1.6 (0.85) and 0.47 (0.325) respectively.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Anthropometry, Body Height, Growth, Leg, Protein-Energy Malnutrition, Regression Analysis and Zinc Sulfate.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and double-blind study of Zinc Sulfate in 141 children.

The publication is from 2001 (The British journal of nutrition), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.