Dietary Zinc Intake and Growth During Infancy

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Abstract
Energy, protein, Zn intake, and weight and length were monitored at 3, 6, and 12 mo. in 50 preterm infants (corrected for gestational age) (mean birthweight, 1,054 .+-. 234 g; mean gestation, 29 .+-. 2.5 wk) and 60 full-term infants (mean birthweight, 3,509 .+-. 269 g; mean gestation, 40 .+-. 1 wk). Mean energy and protein intake (per kilogram body weight) was higher (P < 0.05) for the preterm infants at all times and met the recommended levels for preterm infants. No significant differences in Zn intake (per kilogram body weight) between the 2 groups existed, and at 3 mo. mean Zn intake in the preterm group (per kilogram body weight) was below the recommended level for full-term infants. At no time were the growth percentiles of the preterm group equal to those of the full-term group. Multiple regression equations predicting length at 3 mo. and weight at 12 mo. for all the infants were significant, the significant variables being length at birth and Zn intake (milligrams per day) at 3 mo., and weight at birth and dietary Zn intake (milligrams per day) at 12 mo., respectively. Results indicate that Zn intake played a more important role in explaining the length at 3 mo. and weight at 12 mo. than did any other variables, including intakes of protein and energy, gestational age, socioeconomic index of the fater, midparent height, sex, and age of introduction of solid foods. Results thus support the suggestion that infants, especially those born prematurely, are at risk for inadequate intake of dietary Zn.