ARS | Publication request: The effects of zinc status on early growth in infants with sickle cell disease

Submitted to: Pediatric Academic Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 28, 2010
Publication Date: May 1, 2010
Citation: Davis, A.N., Mueller, B.U., Hicks, P., Hawthorne, K.M., Chen, Z., Cooley, R., Abrams, S.A. 2010. The effects of zinc status on early growth in infants with sickle cell disease [abstract]. Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Academic Society, May 1-4, 2010, Vancouver, BC Canada. E-PAS2010:414.

Technical Abstract: Growth failure, maturational delay, and alterations in body composition occur in older children and adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Poor nutritional status, specifically zinc deficiency, has been widely implicated, although infants with SCD have not been studied. We determined zinc status in infants with SCD and evaluated the effect of zinc status on early growth. To test the hypotheses that zinc deficiency is associated with delayed early growth in infants with SCD. We performed a prospective observation cohort study of infants with a confirmed diagnosis of SCD (HbSS or HbSbetathal0). We measured baseline zinc levels in hair and plasma at 6 to 9 months of age and follow up levels at ages 12 to 15 months. Mean zinc levels were compared between infants with poor (z scores < -2 for weight for age or length for age) versus normal growth. Sixteen infants were evaluated for growth to date. All had normal growth parameters for weight and length at birth. Three infants had evidence of growth failure at 6-12 months of age (z scores < -2 for weight for age or length for age). Six infants completed baseline zinc analyses. All had adequate zinc intake (>3mg/day) by dietary history. Four had abnormally low hair zinc values (44.5 - 67.0 ug/g). One infant had an abnormally low plasma zinc value (58.8 ug /dl) and 3 had borderline plasma zinc values (74.0-76.6 ug/dl). There was no association between those infants with growth delay and zinc deficiency. Some infants with SCD demonstrated growth delay by 6 to 12 months of age. Among the samples evaluated, low hair zinc levels suggest chronic zinc deficiency. In our preliminary data, growth failure appears unrelated to zinc status.