EFFECT OF ZINC DEFICIENCY ON GROWTH HORMONE FUNCTION IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN
Main Article Content
Keywords
Zinc deficiency, Growth hormone, IGF-1, Malnutrition, Children, Micronutrient deficiency, Pediatric growth.
Abstract
Background: Zinc is a vital micronutrient necessary in normal growth and in endocrine activity of children. Zinc deficiency is a frequent complication of malnourished children and could inhibit the activity of growth-related hormones. Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) play a key role in physical growth and changes in these hormones can be a cause of the growth retardation observed in populations that are nutritionally deprived.
Objective: To determine the effect of zinc deficiency on growth hormone function in malnourished children.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from January 2023 to January 2024. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used to select 73 malnourished children between the ages of 2 and 12 years. They were measured in terms of demographic and anthropometric variables such as weight, height, body mass index, and mid-upper arm circumference. The venous blood samples were used to measure serum zinc, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to determine hormonal levels. The SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. Independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis were used and the p-value of 0.05 was taken as significant.
Results: Out of 73 malnourished children, 42 (57.5%) were found to have zinc deficiency. Children with zinc deficiency showed significantly lower mean growth hormone levels (3.6 ± 1.3 ng/mL) compared with children having normal zinc levels (5.0 ± 1.5 ng/mL). Similarly, IGF-1 levels were reduced in the zinc-deficient group. A moderate positive correlation was observed between serum zinc levels and growth hormone (r = 0.41, p = 0.001) as well as IGF-1 levels (r = 0.47, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Zinc deficiency was common among malnourished children and was associated with reduced growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. These findings suggest that inadequate zinc status may contribute to impaired growth hormone function and poor growth outcomes in malnourished children.
References
2. Allai, F.M., et al., Malnutrition: impact of zinc on child development, in Microbial biofertilizers and micronutrient availability: The role of zinc in agriculture and human health. 2021, Springer. p. 83-100.
3. Budzulak, J., et al., Malnutrition as the cause of growth retardation among children in developed countries. 2022. 29(3).
4. Arfi, N., K. Khatoon, and F. Alim, Zinc malnutrition in children and its consequences on health, in Microbial biofertilizers and micronutrient availability: the role of zinc in agriculture and human health. 2021, Springer. p. 35-67.
5. Alaaraj, N., et al., Growth of malnourished infants and children: how is inflammation involved? 2021. 16(5): p. 213-216.
6. Hussain, A., et al., Mechanistic impact of zinc deficiency in human development. 2022. 9: p. 717064.
7. Das, S., et al., Dietary magnesium, vitamin D, and animal protein intake and their association to the linear growth trajectory of children from birth to 24 months of age: Results from MAL-ED birth cohort study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2020. 41(2): p. 200-210.
8. Cunha, T.A., et al., Association between zinc and body composition: an integrative review. 2022. 71: p. 126940.
9. Monfared, V., et al., The effect of zinc supplementation on anthropometric measurements in healthy children over two years: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2023. 23(1): p. 414.
10. Vruwink, K.G., et al., The effect of experimental zinc deficiency on development of the immune system, in Nutrient modulation of the immune response. 2020, CRC Press. p. 263-280.
11. Abregú, F.M.G., et al., Impact of zinc deficiency during prenatal and/or postnatal life on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: experimental and clinical evidence. 2022. 13(3): p. 833-845.
12. Hassan, A., et al., Role of zinc in mucosal health and disease: a review of physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes. 2020. 12(5).
13. Mohammadzadeh, A., et al., Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Anthropometric Parameters of Male School Children. 2023. 10(4).
14. Ahmed, M.H., et al., The impact of functional food in prevention of malnutrition. 2022. 19: p. 100288.
15. Nur, A., et al., The Effect of Zinc Administration in Short Adolescent Mothers who Breastfeed on Zinc Level, Insulin-1 Growth Factors, and Infant Growth. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2022 Jul 04; 10 (B): 1922-1926. 2022.
16. Hung, N.T., et al., Effects of nutrient supplementation on micronutrient status and IGF-1 factor of the stunting children at 2 communes, Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang.
17. Das, M., Prevelence of Zinc Deficiency in Elementary School Children of Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh.
18. Nuryanti, E. and A.T.J.S.R.i.P. Normawati, The influence of zinc supplement in feeding patterns on the incidence of stunted in the toddler. 2020. 11(5): p. 680-2.
19. Robertson, R.C. The gut microbiome in child malnutrition. in Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2020.
20. Khan, S., Managing Zinc Deficiencies Among Children, in Microbial Biofertilizers and Micronutrient Availability: The Role of Zinc in Agriculture and Human Health. 2021, Springer. p. 407-429.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Bibi Hajira Ishaq
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar
Faheem Ullah
Assistant Professor, Endocrinology and Diabetes, KMU Hospital and Research Centre, Peshawar
Juneda Sarfraz
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad
Irshad Ahmed
Principal Medical Officer, DHQ Hospital, Lakki Marwat
Irum Naz
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Naseer Teaching Hospital, Peshawar
Farida Sherazi
Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Naseer Teaching Hospital, Peshawar
