Context

It has now been over 15 years since the publication of the landmark study by Sazawal et al1 demonstrating the efficacy of zinc supplementation during an acute diarrheal episode in children under 5. Since then, dozens of clinical trials have been undertaken to further unravel the role of zinc supplementation to reduce under-5 morbidity and mortality. It is widely accepted that in zinc-deficient populations, zinc supplementation has both curative and preventive effects in the management of acute or chronic childhood diarrhoea with the potential to significantly reduce under-5 mortality.2 While systematic reviews have concluded zinc has no impact on childhood …