What is it about?
Supplementation trials reported inconsistent findings of the effects of zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcome. This RCT was conducted to evaluate the effect of two regimens of zinc supplementation (i.e., Zinc sulfate alone versus ZnSO4 plus multivitamins and control) on pregnancy outcome among zinc deficient pregnant women in Alexandria, Egypt. There was no detectable difference in the mean birth weight between the three groups. Second- and third-stage complications, stillbirth, and preterm delivery, as well as early neonatal morbidity, were significantly lower among the two supplemented groups than the placebo group.
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Why is it important?
This is the only randomized trial of zinc supplementation during pregnancy carried out in Egypt. Given the well-established iron supplementaion program, efforts to expand multiple micronutrient supplementations will require information on the feasibility and effectiveness of prenatal supplementation of zinc under normal field conditions.
Perspectives
The average Egyptian diet contains a large amount of phytate which is the main factor behind the high prevalence of zinc deficiency in Egypt. More research is required to study the effect of improved cheap diet on pregnancy outcome before deciding to provide supplements other than iron and folate, mostly free of charge, which means higher costs.
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Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The effect of zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcomes: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial, Egypt, British Journal Of Nutrition, June 2015, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s000711451500166x.
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