PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Aseel Zeidan
AU  - Atqah AbdulWahab
AU  - Tony Avades
AU  - Prem Chandra
TI  - Serum zinc level in asthmatic and healthy school children
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3651
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA3651
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3651.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3651.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic disorders among children. Zinc (Zn) is an essential dietary antioxidant and may have a special role in the conducting airways of asthmatic subjects.Aims and Objectives: Primary objective was to determine serum Zn level among asthmatic school children aged 7-14 years and compare it to healthy matched children. The secondary objective was to investigate the association of Zn levels with the degree of asthma control and dose of inhaled steroids.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted including forty asthmatic school children of both genders and forty matched healthy controls. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-scores, serum Zn, hemoglobin, total protein and albumin concentrations were measured in both groups. Serum IgE levels, FEV1 and dose of inhaled steroids were measured in asthmatic school children.Results: Mean Zn level among asthmatics children was 12.78±1.8 µmol/L, and out of these four patients had Zn deficiency. Asthma and control groups were matched in age, gender, and BMI Z score (P>0.5). No significant difference observed in Zn levels, hemoglobin, albumin, and total protein between both groups (P>0.5). Among asthmatics, Zn levels were not significantly associated with degree of asthma control (well controlled, mean Zn=12.9±1.5), (partially controlled, mean Zn=11.9±1.6), and (uncontrolled, mean Zn=3.62±2.2) (P=0.053). Zn level was positively correlated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC Z scores. However no significant association was observed between Zn levels with dose of inhaled steroids and IgE.Conclusions: Zn does not seem to play a major role in asthma and degree of asthma control. Larger studies are needed to confirm their association.