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Zinc Status in Children and Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease
Thomas C. Abshire, MD;
Jamie L. English;
John H. Githens, MD;
K. Michael Hambidge, FRCP(Ed)
Am J Dis Child. 1988;142(12):1356-1359.
Abstract
• Previous studies have suggested an association of zinc deficiency and short stature in some children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). As a result, zinc supplementation has been recommended for these patients. The mechanism for zinc deficiency in certain patients with SCD is unknown, although renal loss of zinc has been suggested as a contributing factor. The zinc status of 29 subjects with SCD and 18 black controls was studied. No evidence of zinc deficiency in our population with SCD was found when plasma and cellular zinc levels were measured. Likewise, levels of two zinc-dependent enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and  -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, were normal in these subjects with SCD. Although adolescent subjects with SCD tended to be shorter than control subjects, there was no correlation between the height-for-age z score and plasma zinc levels (r=–.31). It was concluded that zinc deficiency was not present in our population with SCD, and that there was no correlation between plasma zinc levels and the height-for-age z score in growing adolescent patients with SCD. These findings suggested that zinc supplementation may not be necessary in all patients with SCD.
(AJDC 1988;142:1356-1359)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics and Colorado Sickle Cell Treatment and Research Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver. Dr Abshire is now with the Department of Pediatrics, USAF Medical Center Keesler, Keesler AFB, Miss.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Aug 24, 1988.
The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense of the US government.
Reprint requests to Department of Pediatrics, USAF Medical Center Keesler, Keesler AFB, MS 39534-5300 (Dr Abshire).
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