Zinc Deficiency During Total Parenteral Nutrition in Childhood

In a study of 11 pediatric surgical patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), it was found that long-term TPN led to significant zinc deficiency in three patients, resulting in dermatitis, alopecia, and enterocolitis, which responded well to intravenous zinc therapy. Short-term TPN patients maintained normal plasma zinc levels. The findings suggested that zinc deficiency during long-term TPN was due to insufficient zinc in the nutritional solutions, particularly for older children, and that zinc demand increased during the anabolic phase. The study recommended regular inclusion of adequate zinc in all TPN solutions to support growth and tissue repair.