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Rebecca Voelker

JAMA. 2000;283:191.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Developing nations may have a new weapon in their fight against the high incidence of pneumonia and diarrhea among children: zinc supplementation.

In efforts to determine the effects of zinc supplementation on infectious diseases, researchers from the World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health conducted a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials in children in developing countries. Trials included in the analysis provided oral supplements containing at least half of the US recommended daily allowance of zinc to children under the age of 5 years. Illness from infectious diseases was monitored by home visits.

The researchers reported in the December 1999 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics that zinc supplementation was associated with a 41% decrease in pneumonia and a 25% decrease in diarrhea. They noted that for reducing diarrhea, zinc supplementation is comparable with such other interventions as clean water, sanitation, and breastfeeding. However, . . . [Full Text of this Article]