From the Guidelines
Zinc sulfate is a highly effective supplement for the treatment of diarrhea and gastroenteritis, particularly in children, as it reduces the duration and severity of episodes by improving water and electrolyte absorption, strengthening the intestinal immune barrier, and promoting regeneration of damaged intestinal epithelium. According to the 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea 1, oral zinc supplementation is strongly recommended for children 6 months to 5 years of age who reside in countries with a high prevalence of zinc deficiency or who have signs of malnutrition. The recommended dosage is 20 mg of zinc sulfate daily for 10-14 days for children over 6 months, and 10 mg daily for infants under 6 months. This treatment should be initiated as soon as diarrhea symptoms begin, alongside oral rehydration. Key benefits of zinc sulfate include:
- Reducing the duration of diarrhea
- Improving absorption of water and electrolytes in the intestine
- Strengthening the intestinal immune barrier
- Promoting regeneration of damaged intestinal epithelium
- Exhibiting antimicrobial properties to combat pathogens causing gastroenteritis
- Being particularly important in areas with high zinc deficiency prevalence and in children with malnutrition, where it can significantly reduce mortality associated with diarrheal diseases, as noted in the guidelines 1.
From the Research
Role of Zinc Sulfate in Diarrhea and Gastroenteritis Treatment
- Zinc sulfate has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea in children 2, 3, 4
- Studies have demonstrated that zinc treatment, in conjunction with oral rehydration therapy, decreases stool output and shortens the duration of diarrhea 2, 4
- The use of zinc sulfate in the treatment of acute diarrhea has been recommended by the WHO/UNICEF, with a suggested dosage of 20 mg zinc/day for 10-14 days for children with acute diarrhea 5
- Zinc supplementation has also been found to reduce the risk of continued diarrhea and the proportion of diarrheal episodes lasting more than 5 or 7 days 2, 4
Efficacy and Safety of Zinc Sulfate
- A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials found that supplemental oral zinc therapy significantly reduced the duration and severity of acute and persistent diarrhea in children 4
- The study also found that zinc supplementation was associated with a higher incidence of vomiting, particularly when zinc gluconate was used instead of zinc sulfate/acetate 4
- Another study found that a zinc-containing hypotonic oral rehydration solution in a gel formulation was effective in reducing the severity and duration of diarrhea in children, with no adverse events reported 3
Benefits and Recommendations
- Zinc sulfate has been shown to be a low-cost and life-saving treatment for diarrhea and other infections, particularly in developing countries 6, 5
- The use of zinc sulfate in conjunction with oral rehydration therapy is recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhea in children 2, 5
- Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of zinc supplementation in preventing and treating diarrhea in adults 5