Serum Zinc Level and Eating Behaviors in Children Receiving Zinc Supplements without Physician Prescription

The aim of the study was to compare the serum zinc level and eating behaviors in 2–8‑year‑old children with and without arbitrarily zinc supplementation.

This case–control study was conducted from December 2015 to December 2017 in Isfahan, Iran. The case group consisted of seventy children, aged 2–8 years, who have received zinc supplement without physician prescription; the controls were an equal number of age‑matched children who did not receive any supplement. The serum zinc level was measured, and eating behaviors were identified using Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ).

There was no significant difference in serum zinc level between two groups (P = 0.18). Some differences in CEBQ subscales were identified between the groups studied. In the control group, the subscale of enjoyment of food was higher than the case group (P < 0.001). In the case group, the subscales of food fussiness and satiety responsiveness were higher than controls (P < 0.001).

In this study, serum zinc levels were not significantly different between the two groups, and arbitrarily zinc supplementation does not play an important role in improving anorexia subscales.