A Study of Zinc Supplementation for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemiaat Pediatrics Department of NMCH, Patna, Bihar

Dr. Ranjit Kumar; Dr. Syed Atif Hassan; Dr. Akhilesh Kumar; Dr. Binod Kumar Singh; Dr. Debarshi Jana

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2020

A Study of Zinc Supplementation for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemiaat Pediatrics Department of NMCH, Patna, Bihar

Dr. Ranjit Kumar, Dr. Syed Atif Hassan, Dr. Akhilesh Kumar, Dr. Binod Kumar Singh, Dr. Debarshi Jana

Abstract :

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of oral zinc for treatment ofidiopathic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in near–term and term (35–41 weeks) neonates. Design: Randomized placebo–controlled trial. Setting: Pediatrics Department of NMCH Participants: Eighty newborns with idiopathic neonatalhyperbilirubinemia. Intervention: Neonates were randomized to receive either oralzinc sulfate (10 mg/d) or placebo for 7 days. Main outcome measures: Primary: total serum bilirubin levels at48 (±12) h, 96 (±12) h and 144 (±12) h after intervention. Secondary: duration of phototherapy, and serum zinc and copperlevels. Results: Baseline mean (SD) total serum bilirubin levels were14.8 (3.8) and 14.4 (3.5) mg/dL in zinc and placebo groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in totalbilirubin levels between the two groups after the intervention. Mean (SD) total serum bilirubin levels in zinc and placebo groupswere 13.9 (2.5) vs. 13.4 (1.9) mg/dL (mean difference 0.566; 95%CI –0.535, 1.668, P=0.038) at 48 h, 13.1 (2.7) vs. 12.8 (2.3) mg/dL(mean difference 0.234; 95% CI –1.011, 1.479, P =0.708) at 96 hand 8.0 (2.0) vs. 8.6 (1.2) mg/dL (mean difference –0.569, 95% CI–1.382, 0.242, P=0.166) at 144 h. Although the mean duration ofphototherapy in the zinc group was less by 21.3 h (95% CI 11.6,30.9, P=0.052), the difference was not significant. Postintervention,serum zinc levels were significantly higher in thezinc–supplemented group while serum copper levels werecomparable between the two groups. Conclusions: Oral zinc sulfate, in a dose of 10 mg/day, isnot effective in the management of idiopathic neonatalhyperbilirubinemia.