Zinc nutrition and taste acuity in school children with impaired growth

Abstract

A study on the relationship between zinc nutrition status and the parameters of growth and physical development was carried out in a group of school children aged 9 to 12 years, selected from a population showing a higher prevalence of "below average" hair zinc concentrations. The growth of the children was assessed as the attained height for age in comparison with the reference population median, whereas the physical development was assessed on the basis of the weight for height and upper arm circumference. Taste acuity was also examined. The results showed an increased prevalence of the "below average" and "low" zinc values in hair and plasma in children of shorter stature and poorer nutrition status. The examination of taste acuity has shown that the occurrence of moderate to severe hypogeusia was statistically significantly associated with the reduction of hair zinc content. The children with moderate and more severe hypogeusia also belonged to the most poorly nourished in the examined population.