Zinc supplementation is not effective against malaria in African children

Zinc supplementation has no effect on falciparum malaria in children in rural West Africa. However, it is effective in reducing morbidity from diarrhoea and may help to reduce mortality from all causes. Müller and colleagues (p 1567) conducted a double blind, placebo controlled efficacy trial in 85 children in 18 villages in rural north western Burkina Faso. The intervention group received 12.5 mg of zinc sulphate daily for six days a week for six months but there was no difference in the incidence of falciparum malaria, mean temperature, or mean parasitic densities. However, the intervention group had less diarrhoeal episodes (0.87) and all cause mortality was non-significantly reduced.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Effect of zinc supplementation on malaria and other causes of morbidity in west African children: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial

Olaf Müller, Heiko Becher, Anneke Baltussen van Zweeden, Yazoume Ye, Diadier A Diallo, Amadou T Konate, Adjima Gbangou, Bocar Kouyate, and Michel Garenne
BMJ 2001 322: 1567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]