Zinc supplements probably reduce childhood deaths in Zanzibar

doi:10.1136/bmj.334.7594.609-a

BMJ 2007;334:609 (24 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.334.7594.609-a

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Zinc supplements probably reduce childhood deaths in Zanzibar

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We already know zinc supplements can help reduce morbidity associatedwith diarrhoea and pneumonia in young children from the developingworld. As both illnesses are often lethal, zinc supplementsshould also save lives. This had been difficult to prove, however.In the latest attempt, researchers randomised more than 42 000young children living in Zanzibar, off the coast of East Africa,to receive placebo or a zinc supplement for a mean of 485 days.The supplements had no overall impact on mortality (relativerisk of death from all causes 0.93; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.06), exceptperhaps in children aged over 12 months. Even in this subgroup,the results weren't quite statistically significant (0.82; 0.68to 1.00). Older boys seemed to benefit most (0.71; 0.54 to 0.93),largely because of reduced deaths from malaria and other infections.Malaria is endemic in Zanzibar.