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Table 3 Study outcomes by intervention.

From: Zinc and copper supplementation in acute diarrhea in children: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Outcome variable

Intervention

Mean ± sd

Difference (95%CI)*

Adjusted Difference (95%CI)**

Stool weight (g)

    
 

Placebo

876.9 ± 1194.1

  
 

Zn

972.3 ± 920.2

95.4 (-85.4,276.2)

21.1 (-40.8,83)

 

Zn+Cu

972.3 ± 1210

94.5 (-86.7,275.7)

23.8 (-35.5,83.1)

Duration of diarrhea (hours)a from enrollment

    
 

Placebo

62.2 ± 33.5

  
 

Zn

64.4 ± 37.8

2.2 (-4.1,8.5)

1.9 (-2.23,2.55)

 

Zn+Cu

64.4 ± 35

2.2 (-3.8,8.2)

-0.9 (-2.37,2.2)

Amount of ORS used in hospital (ml)

    
 

Placebo

1666.5 ± 1372.7

  
 

Zn

1837.1 ± 1719.4

170.6 (-93.3,434.5)

42.8 (-45.6,131.2)

 

Zn+Cu

1811.9 ± 1499

145.4 (-96.7,387.5)

67.2 (-17.5,152.1)

Amount of IV fluids used in hospital (ml)

    
 

Placebo

127.3 ± 412.9

  
 

Zn

127.9 ± 358.2

0.7 (-65,66.4)

4.1 (-16,24.1)

 

Zn+Cu

131.7 ± 428

4.5 (-66.4,73.3)

-1.2 (-20.7,18.3)

14th day zinc levels (μg/dL)

    
 

Pl

76.3 ± 32.9

  
 

Zn

76.6 ± 35.

0.3 (-5.8, 6.4)

-1.1 (-3,0.9)

 

Zn+Cu

74.3 ± 40

-2 (-8.5, 4.6)

-2.3 (-4.1,-0.5)

14th day copper levels (μg/dL)

    
 

Pl

115.2 ± 30.8

  
 

Zn

121.2 ± 35.

6.0 (0.1,11.9)

1.7 (-0.4,3.7)

 

Zn+Cu

124.6 ± 36.8

9.4 (3.4,15.5)

2.4 (0.5,4.3)

Mean absolute difference from baseline in Znc

    
 

Placebo

7.2 ± 379.6

  
 

Zn

59.2 ± 428.5

52 (-20.7,124.7)

34.8 (-11.7,81.2)

 

Zn+Cu

81.8 ± 452.8

74.5 (-0.11,149)

71.4 (30.9,111.9)

Mean absolute difference from baseline in Cud

    
 

Placebo

-79.4 ± 429.2

  
 

Zinc

-41.2 ± 418.8

38.2 (-37.8,114.3)

14 (-1.5,9.5)

 

Zn+Cu

15.6 ± 439.8

95 (39.3,17.7)

19.6 (3.6,35.6)

  

N (%)

Odds ratio(95%CI)

Adjusted odds ratio(95%CI)

Proportion with diarrhea of > 7 days from onsetb

    
 

Placebo

13(5.3)

  
 

Zn

20(8.1)

1.6 (0.77,3.25)

1.8 (0.78,3.97)

 

Zn+Cu

15(5.8)

1.11 (0.52,2.38)

1.18 (0.51,2.73)

  

N (%)

IRR (95%CI)$

Adjusted IRR (95%CI)

Rates of complications in hospital

    
 

Placebo

14 (5.2)

  
 

Zn

10 (3.7)

0.73 (0.33,1.65)

0.76 (0.32,1.84)e

 

Zn+Cu

8 (2.9)

0.57 (0.24,1.35)

0.68 (0.26,1.78)

More than three episodes of some dehydration in hospital

    
 

Placebo

6 (2.2)

  
 

Zn

2 (0.8)

0.34 (0.07,1.7)e

0.35 (0.07,1.77)

 

Zn+Cu

5 (1.8)

0.83 (0.25,2.71)

0.94 (0.27,3.34)

Severe dehydration experience in hospital

    
 

Placebo

12 (4.4)

  
 

Zn

6 (2.3)

0.51 (0.19,1.37)

0.55 (0.21,1.49)

 

Zn+Cu

8 (2.9)

0.66 (0.27,1.62)

0.77 (0.31,1.94)

  1. * The difference is as compared with the placebo group.
  2. **Adjusted for following covariates: age, gender, prior duration of diarrhea, weight-for-age Z -score at most -2, dehydration status, receipt of medication, water safety, wealth index, type of stool, baseline serum zinc and serum copper.
  3. $ Incidence rate ratios on Poisson regression. Beneficial effect is < 1.
  4. aCensored duration of diarrhea: 16 in Zinc, 14 in Zinc/Copper treatment,24 in Placebo.
  5. bCensored proportion with diarrhea > 7 days from onset: 16 in Zinc treatment, 14 in Zinc/Copper treatment, 24 in Placebo.
  6. c Censored 14th day serum Zinc: 32 in Zinc treatment, 19 in Zinc/Copper treatment,21 in Placebo.
  7. dCensored 14th day serum copper: 32 in Zinc treatment, 19 in Zinc/Copper treatment,21 in Placebo.
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