For some children, supplemental zinc safeguards against the effects of dehydration associated with acute diarrhea. Your health care provider may recommend zinc supplements to treat a health condition or to address a dietary deficiency. MayoClinic.com cautions that the need for additional zinc should be assessed by your doctor, and adds that some forms of zinc require a prescription. Zinc supplements can cause serious side effects.
Role of Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that supports wound healing, immune system function, protein synthesis and cell division. Beginning with pregnancy, zinc is needed for normal growth and development throughout the life cycle. Most American infants, children and adults consume adequate amounts of zinc, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Although zinc is available in a wide variety of foods, zinc supplements are also available in the forms of zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate and zinc acetate. Zinc supplements are taken orally or by injection.
Zinc and Diarrhea
Diseases associated with diarrhea are the primary cause of pediatric mortality. Children may develop acute or infectious diarrhea secondary to a zinc deficiency that compromises their immune system. Acute diarrhea primarily strikes children in developing countries when their weakened immune system leads to an increased susceptibility for the dehydrating effects of diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Children suffering from acute diarrhea experience dehydration after losing nutrients, electrolytes and body fluids. For infants under 6 months of age, the World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that health-care providers treat acute diarrhea with zinc supplementation.
Research
In a study published in the June 2011 issue of the "Indian Journal of Pharmacology," researchers reviewed studies which examined zinc as a therapeutic intervention for pediatric diarrhea. The results indicate that oral zinc supplementation decreased diarrhea stool output, frequency and duration, and substantiated the safety, effectiveness and affordability of zinc supplementation. Although the benefits of zinc for treating pediatric diarrhea have been known since the 1990s, the researchers and UNICEF reported concerns that the data was largely ignored.
Side Effects
All dietary supplements have the potential to produce side effects, and zinc supplements are no exception. Some of the side effects are heartburn, fever, ulcers in the mouth or throat, chills, nausea and fatigue. Notify your doctor if you experience any of these side effects. Additionally, zinc toxicity may result from taking too much of the supplement. Signs of zinc toxicity include vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, headaches and yellow eyes or skin. Some zinc supplements contain copper to prevent copper anemia associated with high doses of zinc.
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