Daily 20 mg of zinc reduces infections by nearly 40% in children with sickle cell anemia
A clinical trial in Uganda found that a daily 20 mg dose of zinc significantly reduces infections in children suffering from sickle cell anemia. This low-cost intervention could potentially save lives and reduce hospitalizations in resource-limited settings.
Why it matters
The study offers a highly affordable and accessible medical strategy to improve health outcomes for a vulnerable population affected by a chronic genetic disorder.
Ruth Namazzi and Chandy John meet with a child and his caregiver for a study investigating zinc supplementation in children with sickle cell anemia.
Newswise — INDIANAPOLIS - A daily 20 milligram dose of zinc reduced infections by nearly 40% among Ugandan children younger than 5 with sickle cell anemia, according to new research led by scientists at the Indiana University School of Medicine and their study partners in Uganda. The findings, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , point to an affordable, well-tolerated strategy to decrease hospitalizations and save more lives of children living with the genetic blood disorder.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in