Background and aim
Short stature is a common problem in children globally, especially in developing countries. Several micronutrients, primarily zinc and iron, play important roles in linear growth, and their deficiencies result in stunting. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of zinc and iron in children with idiopathic short stature.
Patients and methods
A case–control study was conducted on 50 children, aged 2–15 years old, comprising 25 cases of idiopathic short stature (16 males and nine females) and 25 age-matched and sex-matched individuals as a control group. Patients were classified as having mild to moderate or severe short stature. All children were subjected to history taking, physical examination, and laboratory investigations, including complete blood count, urine analysis, stool analysis, and serum levels of zinc and iron.
Results
Mean hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower among cases when compared with control group (10.98 ± 1.2 vs 12.16 ± 0.96). Serum iron was lower in cases than control group, with insignificant difference (98.19 ± 34.7 vs 107.46 ± 46.23). According to zinc level, there is no significant difference between both groups (328.25 ± 280.95 vs 404.86 ± 411.02).