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Zinc deficiency in an exclusively breast-fed preterm infant

  • Nutrition
  • Original Paper
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Abstract

A formerly premature, exclusively breast-fed infant with severe zinc deficiency syndrome is presented. He showed the characteristic erosive skin changes, including alopecia, as seen in acrodermatitis enteropathica. In addition, he manifested a failure to thrive and irritability. The diagnosis was confirmed by reduced serum levels of zinc (2.3 μmol/l) and alkaline phosphatase (45 U/l). We consider the reduced zinc supply in the breast milk (5.7 μmol/l) as the most likely cause of the disease. Therapy consisted of oral zinc supplements (50 μmol/kg/day) for a period of 30 weeks. Symptoms and laboratory values normalized completely and did not recur on a normal diet.

Conclusion

A diet of breast milk can, in rare circumstances, cause insufficient zinc intake resulting in severe zinc deficiency syndrome with characteristic dermatological features. Therapy consists of temporary oral zinc supplementation at a daily dose of 50 μmol/kg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Kinderklinik Freiburg, Matbildenstrasse 1, D-79 106, Freiburg, Germany

    F. Heinen, D. Matern, W. Pringsheim, J. U. Leititis & M. Brandis

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  1. F. Heinen
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  2. D. Matern
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  3. W. Pringsheim
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  4. J. U. Leititis
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  5. M. Brandis
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Heinen, F., Matern, D., Pringsheim, W. et al. Zinc deficiency in an exclusively breast-fed preterm infant. Eur J Pediatr 154, 71–75 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972977

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01972977

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