Growth and body composition of periurban Guatemalan children in relation to zinc status: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

In a study of periurban Guatemalan schoolchildren (89 males, 73 females) aged 81.5 ± 7.0 mo (x̄ ± SD), height, weight, arm circumference, and triceps-skinfold-thickness (TSF) measurements were examined in relation to plasma and hair zinc concentrations, plasma and red blood cell alkaline phosphatase activities, recognition thresholds for salt (RTS), de-layed-cutaneous hypersensitivity response to seven recall skin-test antigens, and cognitive measures. Children were stunted [median height-for-age (HA) Z score −1.49] but not wasted [median weight-for-height (WH) Z score 0.20], with median midarm muscle area (MAMA) and midarm-fat area (MAFA) Z scores of −0.57 and −0.35, respectively. Of the children, 63.5% of males and 44.1% of females had hair zinc < 1.68 µmol/g (P < 0.05); 12.3% of males and 1.5% of females had plasma zinc < 10.71 µmol/L(P < 0.05). Children with hair zinc < 1.68 µmol/ g had higher (P < 0.05) medians for WA Z and WH Z scores, RTS, and phytic acid intake than did those with hair zinc ≥ 1.68 µmol/g. Zinc status explained some of the variance in growth (HA, WA, and WH Z scores), body composition (MAFA Z scores), and taste acuity. Suboptimal zinc status arose partly from diets low in readily available zinc.