Inpharma 1516 - 3 Dec 2005

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Zinc supplementation beneficial in children with HIV-1 infections Zinc supplementation for children with HIV-1 infection may decrease the incidence of watery diarrhoea and pneumonia, and does not affect viral replication, report researchers from South Africa and the US. In their study, 96 children aged 6–60 months were randomised to receive zinc sulphate 10 mg/day (n = 46) or placebo, for 6 months, and were followed up at 3, 6 and 9 months after the start of supplementation. Children receiving zinc supplementation gained significantly more bodyweight after 6 months, compared with placebo recipients (7% vs 2%). Zinc supplementation also resulted in a significantly reduced incidence of watery diarrhoea at each scheduled or illness visit, compared with placebo (7.4% vs 14.5% of visits). Children receiving zinc supplementation had reduced incidences of pneumonia (14% vs 18.6% of visits), upper respiratory tract infections (40.3% vs 45.2% of visits), and ear infections (11.3% vs 14.5% of visits), although these were not statistically significant. There were no significant between-group differences in HIV-1 viral load or mean percentages of CD4+ T lymphocytes at each follow-up visit, or in mean values for the study period. Two deaths occurred in the zinc supplementation group, compared with seven in the placebo group. Zinc supplementation was not associated with any deaths or serious adverse effects. Bobat R, et al. Safety and efficacy of zinc supplementation for children with HIV-1 infection in South Africa: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled 801002595 trial. Lancet 366: 1862-1867, No. 9500, 26 Nov 2005

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Inpharma 3 Dec 2005 No. 1516