Objectives: To evaluate the role of oral zinc supplement with phototherapy on treatment of indirect hyperbilirubinemia.
Study design: This was a randomized clinical trial study included 184 neonates with indirect neonatal jaundice who were randomly assigned into two groups; group (1): received oral zinc sulfate with phototherapy and group (2): received phototherapy alone. Neonates allocated according to gestational age into full-term and late-preterm neonates All cases underwent measurement of total serum bilirubin (TSB) level on admission and serially according to severity, then after 24 and 72 hours after stoppage of phototherapy. TSB reduction calculated as TSB on admission minus TSB on discontinuation of phototherapy. Level of serum zinc level on admission, side effects related to oral zinc and duration of phototherapy, where total hours of phototherapy calculated as 1 daily hour on double phototherapy equals 2 hours of phototherapy, were assessed in this study.
Results: No statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the decrease of initial TSB after 24 hours, the level of TSB reduction, re-increasing of TSB during NICU admission, daily hours of phototherapy, total hours of phototherapy during NICU admission, duration of NICU admission (p. value > 0.05 for all), in all neonates, full term and late preterm subgroups.
Conclusions: Concomitant oral zinc sulfate and phototherapy had no additive value over phototherapy alone in lowering serum bilirubin levels in treatment of neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia.