TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of zinc supplementation on Schistosoma mansoni reinfection rate and intensities

T2 - a randomized, controlled trial among rural Zimbabwean schoolchildren

AU - Friis, Henrik

AU - Ndhlovu, P

AU - Mduluza, T

AU - Kaondera, K

AU - Sandström, B

AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.

AU - Vennervald, Birgitte J

AU - Ørnbjerg, Niels

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on susceptibility to S. mansoni reinfections among schoolchildren.DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.SETTING AND SUBJECTS: 313 rural Zimbabwean schoolchildren (144 boys and 169 girls), 11-17 y).INTERVENTIONS: Supplementation with zinc (30 or 50 mg) or placebo on schooldays for 12 months. Due to drought, a food programme was in operation during the last eight months of the study.OUTCOME MEASURES: S. mansoni and S. haematobium reinfection rates and intensities.RESULTS: There was no difference in reinfection rates between the zinc and placebo groups (25 vs 29%, P = 0.46). However, the median intensity of S. mansoni reinfection, although low in both groups, was significantly lower in the zinc than in the placebo group (7 vs 13 eggs per gram of faeces, P = 0.048). No difference in either S. haematobium reinfection rates or intensities were seen.CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation reduced the intensity of S. mansoni reinfections. Although the intensities of reinfection were very low, the finding probably reflects a biological effect of zinc that could be of public health importance in settings with higher transmission.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on susceptibility to S. mansoni reinfections among schoolchildren.DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.SETTING AND SUBJECTS: 313 rural Zimbabwean schoolchildren (144 boys and 169 girls), 11-17 y).INTERVENTIONS: Supplementation with zinc (30 or 50 mg) or placebo on schooldays for 12 months. Due to drought, a food programme was in operation during the last eight months of the study.OUTCOME MEASURES: S. mansoni and S. haematobium reinfection rates and intensities.RESULTS: There was no difference in reinfection rates between the zinc and placebo groups (25 vs 29%, P = 0.46). However, the median intensity of S. mansoni reinfection, although low in both groups, was significantly lower in the zinc than in the placebo group (7 vs 13 eggs per gram of faeces, P = 0.048). No difference in either S. haematobium reinfection rates or intensities were seen.CONCLUSIONS: Zinc supplementation reduced the intensity of S. mansoni reinfections. Although the intensities of reinfection were very low, the finding probably reflects a biological effect of zinc that could be of public health importance in settings with higher transmission.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Child

KW - Disease Susceptibility

KW - Double-Blind Method

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Patient Compliance

KW - Placebos

KW - Recurrence

KW - Schistosomiasis mansoni

KW - Zimbabwe

KW - Zinc

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 9023465

VL - 51

SP - 33

EP - 37

JO - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

SN - 0954-3007

IS - 1

ER -