This study is intended to survey the ZINC DEFICIENCY in a prospective, comparative-descriptive way. 30 children were selected from among the children hospitalized in Al-Zahra Hospital due to pneumonia in 1379. Hair ZINC was measured through NAA. The analyzed findings revealed that the average hair ZINC among the cases and the control group were 88.24%±45.17 PPM and 17.32±50.91 PPM respectively which was considered significant. The average ZINC amount and age were positively related in both groups. The results indicated that ZINC DEFICIENCY and pneumonia were significantly related and it indicated low ZINC amount even in healthy kids.

INTRODUCTION: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (predominantly pneumonia) account for one-third of all childhood deaths in developing countries. As ZINC DEFICIENCY results in impaired immunocompetence, and because ZINC supplementation improves immunity, the role of ZINC DEFICIENCY in the incidence of acute lower respiratory infections was investigated by comparing ZINC levels in children with pneumonia with healthy ones in this study. METHODS: Twenty-seven children admitted to the Pediatrics Ward of Alzahra Hospital (affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences) during one year were included in this conventional descriptive-comparative study. In these children, simulating and underlying causes for pneumonia, as well as reactive airway disease were ruled out. Scalp hair from occipital area was cut and ZINC content was measured with Neutron Activator Analysis (NAA). RESULTS: In the case group, male to female ratio was 1.1/1.6, mean age was 58.4±48.9 months, mean weight was 17.52±10.2 kg, and mean height was 99.4±26.39 cm, with no significant difference between the case and control groups. Growth parameters were similar in the two groups. Hair ZINC level was higher in the control group than in the case group (117.32±50.9 ppm and 88.24±45.1 ppm, respectively P<0.03). A significant direct correlation was found between ZINC level and age in both groups (P<0.05). DISCUSSION: This study supports the role of ZINC in immunity to lower respiratory infections. In view of the substantially lower level of hair ZINC in the control group compared to other countries, evaluation of the causes of ZINC DEFICIENCY and .effectiveness of ZINC supplements is recommended for other extended studies.

ZINC is one of the elements necessary for growth and health in human. Some evidences indicate that the ZINC DEFICIENCY is one of real difficulties for the public health in developed and developing countries. Since the pregnant women are more at risk by the ZINC DEFICIENCY, and this can cause many problems, in this study we tried to find out the rate of ZINC DEFICIENCY in pregnant women within the region. This research project was analytical-descriptive study which was done on the 400 pregnant women whom referred to Zahedan Ghods hospital. A questionnaire was set up for each case which contained the following items, mother age, pregnancy age, numbers of deliveries, education, and consumption of iron tablet during pregnancy. The serum ZINC level in each mother in this project was determined by atomic absorption technique. Prevalence of ZINC DEFICIENCY among the pregnant women was 49%. Statistical analysis indicated that ZINC DEFICIENCY had correlation with mother age, term of pregnancy and iron consumption. But ZINC DEFICIENCY showed no correlation with numbers of deliveries and education.