Zinc and Growth in Jordanian Pediatric Patients with Picky Eating: An Observational Study
January 2022
in “
United Research Forum eBooks
”
TLDR Picky eating in children is linked to lower zinc levels and various nutritional deficiencies.
This observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between picky eating and serum zinc levels in children from southern Jordan, examining data from pediatric patients seen between January 2015 and January 2017. The study found that lower serum zinc levels were associated with lower weight-for-age Z-scores, indicating that picky eating may lead to zinc deficiency and other nutritional deficits. The research also noted that while underlying disorders like celiac disease and acrodermatitis enteropathica were rare (4 out of 118 cases), they resulted in significantly lower serum zinc levels. However, the family's income level was not a reliable predictor of serum zinc levels. The study concluded that picky eating is linked to not only lower zinc levels but also reduced weight for age, hemoglobin levels, and vitamin D levels, suggesting a broad spectrum of nutritional deficiencies in picky eaters.