Risk factors of zinc deficiency in children with atopic dermatitis
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Authors Information
1Weill Cornell Medical College, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar
2Section of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
3Departments of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Cerrahpaºa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
4Departments of Public Health, Medipol International School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
History
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Published online: 8 October 2019
Accepted: 11 September 2019
Received: 26 May 2019
SUMMARY
Background and objectives. Zinc deficiency increases risk of infections, allergies and autoimmunity. We wished to determine risk factors in severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and identify of hypozincemia rate. Materials and methods. Retrospective study done on AD children (≤ 14 years) with serum zinc test. Data included demographic and laboratory tests (serum zinc level, IgE, food-specific IgE), and skin tests. Results. 168 AD children, aged 38.9 months with concomitant allergies in 47 (28%), family history of allergies in 131 (80%), and parental consanguinity in 134 (79.9%). AD was mild in 12 (7.2%, SCORAD 15.8) children, moderate in 41 (24.5%, SCORAD 30.4), and severe in 115 (68.3%, SCORAD 69.4). Hypozincemia was observed in 42 (25%, zinc 8.6 ± 1.1 µmoI/L) children and associated only with severe AD (p = 0.0418) and elevated IgE (p = 0.001). Conclusions. Hypozincemia is rather prevalent in AD, and severe AD and high IgE increase its risk. An adjunct oral zinc may help reducing severe poorly responsive AD.
