The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children

Shereen Mohamad Shaker; Hassan Fathy; Eman K A Abdelall; Amira S A Said

doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

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Original Research
Online Published: 16 Mar 2018

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2018; 8(7): 1010-1017

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children

Shereen Mohamad Shaker, Hassan Fathy, Eman K A Abdelall, Amira S A Said.

Cited By:13

Abstract
Background: Supplementation of zinc and Vitamin A shows inconsistent effects on the respiratory morbidity in children in developing countries.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of zinc and zinc + Vitamin A supplementation on the acute upper respiratory infections (AURTIs) in the pediatric patients aged between 2 and 12 years.

Materials and Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was employed in the present study. A total of 80 children suffering with AURTI were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: Placebo group, daily zinc (22.5 mg elemental zinc/Kg divided on 13 doses) group, and daily zinc + once dosing of Vitamin A (50000 IU) group in addition to the required treatment for their respiratory illness. Differential blood count analysis and C-reactive protein (C-RP) were assayed on days 1 and 5, and then, zinc or placebo was given daily for 6 months to the children, which were followed up and monitored once weekly for 6 months. The information regarding adverse effects, AURTI incidence, and missing school days were then collected.

Results: The total white blood cells count, neutrophil (staph) percentage, and C-RP significantly decreased by post-supplementation with both zinc and zinc + Vitamin A. Monocytes percentage showed a significant increase by post-supplementation with zinc + Vitamin A (P = 0.011). In addition, AURTI and school absence incidences were significantly decreased in both zinc and zinc + Vitamin A recipients compared to placebo patients.

Conclusion: We concluded that zinc alone or simultaneous zinc and Vitamin A supplementation in AURTI patients significantly improved the clinical outcome by improving the immune status.

Key words: Zinc; Vitamin A; Supplements; Upper Respiratory Infections; Children

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Pubmed Style

Shaker SM, Fathy H, Abdelall EKA, Said ASA. The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2018; 8(7): 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

Web Style

Shaker SM, Fathy H, Abdelall EKA, Said ASA. The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=289788 [Access: July 07, 2025]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Shaker SM, Fathy H, Abdelall EKA, Said ASA. The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2018; 8(7): 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Shaker SM, Fathy H, Abdelall EKA, Said ASA. The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2018), [cited July 07, 2025]; 8(7): 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

Harvard Style

Shaker, S. M., Fathy, . H., Abdelall, . E. K. A. & Said, . A. S. A. (2018) The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 8 (7), 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

Turabian Style

Shaker, Shereen Mohamad, Hassan Fathy, Eman K A Abdelall, and Amira S A Said. 2018. The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 8 (7), 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

Chicago Style

Shaker, Shereen Mohamad, Hassan Fathy, Eman K A Abdelall, and Amira S A Said. "The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 8 (2018), 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Shaker, Shereen Mohamad, Hassan Fathy, Eman K A Abdelall, and Amira S A Said. "The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 8.7 (2018), 1010-1017. Print. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Shaker, S. M., Fathy, . H., Abdelall, . E. K. A. & Said, . A. S. A. (2018) The effect of zinc and Vitamin A supplements in treating and reducing the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in children. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 8 (7), 1010-1017. doi:10.5455/njppp.2018.8.0104206032018

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