Zinc Nutrition for Infants

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Published: Dec 27, 2010
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Zinc Nutrition Infants

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Oraporn Dumrongwongsiri
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Nalinee Chongviriyaphan
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Umaporn Suthutvoravut
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

In human, rapid growth and development occurs in the first year of life. Adequate nutrition is the important factor to ensure full potential growth and development of infants. Zinc has important roles in infant growth, including releasing many neurotransmitters that regulate appetite, smell, and taste sensations. Zinc involves in cell division and differentiation as wel as growth hormone system. For infant development, zinc is the essential composition of brain; many zinc-dependent neurotransmitters are involved in cognitive and brain memory functions. Concerning immune system, zinc involves in activation of many types of cells in both cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and also cytokine system. There is evidence from many studies showing a decrease in the incidence of infectious diseases in infants and toddlers supplemented with zinc.


Zinc concentration in breast milk is different among many areas in the world due to the difference in genetic factors, ethnics, cultural, and food habit that varies in each country. There are some case reports of exclusively breastfed infants with a clinical manifestation of zinc deficiency. Low-for-lactation-age zinc concentration in breast milk is the cause of zinc deficiency in nursing infants; and that may be due to maternal nutritional status or mutation in geres regulating zinc transporter in mammary gland. It  is estimated that breastfed infants aged more than 6 months should obtain dietary zinc at the amount of more than 90 percent of requirement from complementary foods. Meat is good source of zinc; therefore, meat should be introduced to infants as early complementary foods.

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How to Cite
1.
Dumrongwongsiri O, Chongviriyaphan N, Suthutvoravut U. Zinc Nutrition for Infants. Rama Med J [Internet]. 2010 Dec. 27 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];33(4):284-9. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ramajournal/article/view/152485
Issue
Vol. 33 No. 4 (2010): October-December
Section
Review Articles

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