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Re: Zinc levels in neonatal life influence long-term neurodevelopment

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, page 1198 (2021)Cite this article

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We thank Terrin et al. for their letter.

Dr. Terrin’s data support an association between zinc status and motor neurodevelopment. However, causality can only be demonstrated by a randomized trial comparing controls without zinc supplementation with treated infants with zinc supplementation.

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References

  1. Terrin G, Boscarino G, Di Chiara M, Iacobelli S, Faccioli F, Greco C, et al. Nutritional intake influences zinc levels in preterm newborns: an observational study. Nutrients. 2020;12:v529.

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  3. Brion LP, Heyne R, Lair CS. Role of zinc in neonatal growth and brain growth: review and scoping review. Pediatr Res. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01181-z; correction: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-1425-6.

  4. Brion LP, Heyne R, Brown LS, Lair CS, Edwards A, Burchfield PJ, et al. Zinc deficiency limiting head growth to discharge in extremely low gestational age infants with insufficient linear growth: a cohort study. J Perinatol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00778-w. PMID: 32788617.

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Funding

Children’s Medical Center Clinical Advisory Committee (CCRAC)—Senior Investigator Research Award—New Direction (LPB).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    L. P. Brion & R. Heyne

  2. Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, TX, USA

    C. S. Lair

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  1. L. P. Brion
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  2. R. Heyne
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  3. C. S. Lair
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Correspondence to L. P. Brion.

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Brion, L.P., Heyne, R. & Lair, C.S. Re: Zinc levels in neonatal life influence long-term neurodevelopment. J Perinatol 41, 1198 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01013-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01013-w

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