Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Sample of Egyptian Children with Short Stature

Abstract Background Zinc deficiency has adverse effect on growth and sexual development due to their direct effect on growth hormone metabolism. Zinc is a metal with great nutritional importance and is particular necessary in cellular replication. Objective to investigate the prevalence of zinc deficiency in sample of Egyptian children (in El Minya Government Primary School) with normal healthy and correlate it with short stature. Methods This is A Cross section simple randomization study for 6month from December 2022 to May 2023 At Elemam malk and Elweahada primary schools at Nazlet Elbarsha village on El Minia government over 500 health children all of them were subjected to full medical history taking and full clinical examination with weight, height body mass index and put on growth chart plot Results The prevalence of low serum zinc level was 25,8%, Normal zinc level was 74,6%, Highly significant association between serum zinc level and short stature, Zinc deficiency is less prevalent in male than female No significant correlation was found between serum zinc level and age, weight height, BMI, gender and anthroprometric. Finally serum zinc may contribute to short stature in primary school children in El minia government Egypt. Conclusion Serum zinc may contribute to short stature on small children aged (7-12 years) in EL Minia government Egypt.