ROLE OF ZINC DEFICIENCY IN GROWTH HORMONE DYSFUNCTION AND ANATOMICAL CHANGES IN MALNOURISHED CHILDREN
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Keywords
Zinc deficiency, Growth hormone, IGF-1, Malnutrition, Bone age, Children
Abstract
Background: Zinc is a micronutrient important for growth, immunity and the endocrine system. Zinc is commonly deficient in malnourished children and has the potential to damage the growth hormone (GH) - insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis, resulting in impaired growth and delayed anatomical development.
Objective: To evaluate the role of zinc deficiency in growth hormone dysfunction and anatomical changes among malnourished children.
Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in Mufti Mahmood Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, between January 2024 and January 2025. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used to enroll 72 children aged 2 to 12 years old and who were malnourished. Anthropometric data were taken and serum zinc was determined. The ELISA was used to measure growth hormone, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. Wrist X-ray was used to determine bone age. The SPSS version 26.0 was used to analyze the data and achieve associations of chi-square test, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation.
Results: The mean serum zinc level was 58.3 ± 11.6 µg/dL, with 69.4% of children classified as zinc deficient. Low GH levels were observed in 58.3% and low IGF-1 levels in 63.9% of participants. A significant association was found between zinc deficiency and growth hormone dysfunction (p = 0.003). Serum zinc levels showed a positive correlation with GH (r = 0.42), IGF-1 (r = 0.51), and anthropometric parameters. Delayed bone age was present in 56.9% of children.
Conclusion: Zinc deficiency is strongly associated with growth hormone dysfunction and impaired anatomical development in malnourished children. Early detection and nutritional interventions targeting zinc deficiency may improve growth outcomes and hormonal balance.
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All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Ali Abbas Khan
Senior Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, Mufti Mehmood Teaching Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Faheem Ullah
Consultant Pediatriacian, Children Ward, Type C Hospital Tahti. E. Nasrati, Karak, Pakistan
Khalid Shehzad
Lecturer, Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Medicine, Qassim University
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Khanasa Kiani
Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Quetta Institute of Medical Sciences (QIMS), Quetta, Pakistan
Maryum Saeed Hashmi
Lecturer (Basic Subjects), Prime College of Allied Health Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan
Mohammad Iqbal
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Muhammad College of Medicine, Peshawar, Pakistan
