Zinc and iron status and growth in healthy infants

Objective: To elucidate the relationships between growth and zinc and iron status in normal infants. Study design: Growth of normal infants (less than 3 y old; n = 66) was prospectively assessed with a mean delay of 24 +/- 6 weeks between measurements; subjects were free from illness and presented with a normal growth. Growth was compared to serum zinc (s-zinc), IGF-1 and iron status. Setting: Teaching hospital of Caen. Results: No relation was found between linear or weight growth and s-zinc; when taking into account the effect of age, linear growth was significantly associated with ferritin (P < 0.001); weight gain was significantly correlated with IGF-1 (P = 0.033) and ferritin (P = 0.008). No relationship was found between s-zinc and iron status. Conclusions: in normal infants iron status, more than serum zinc, seems to be correlated with growth.