Zinc reduces the incidence of pneumonia

Zinc supplementation reduces the incidence of pneumonia in children living in a slum community in New Delhi, India. In a randomised controlled trial by Bhandari and colleagues (p 1358), daily elemental zinc supplementation, together with a single dose of vitamin A, reduced the risk of pneumonia substantially more than in children who received daily placebo and vitamin A. The incidence of lower respiratory tract infections was the same in both groups. The authors say that measures to improve zinc status through food fortification or dietary diversification are warranted.

(Credit: PANOS)

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