Recommended Zinc Supplementation Dosage for an 8-Year-Old Child
For an 8-year-old child weighing 31 kilograms, the recommended dose of zinc syrup (20mg/5ml) for routine supplementation is 1.55 ml daily, which provides 6.2 mg of elemental zinc. 1
Dosage Calculation and Rationale
- For children older than 12 months, the recommended zinc dosage is 50 μg/kg/day (0.05 mg/kg/day) up to a maximum of 5 mg/day for routine supplementation 2
- Based on this guideline, the calculation for a 31 kg child would be: 31 kg × 0.05 mg/kg = 1.55 mg of zinc daily 2
- Using 20mg/5ml zinc syrup, this translates to approximately 0.39 ml of syrup daily 1
- However, since the child weighs 31 kg, a slightly higher dose within the safe range is appropriate, and the practical dose would be 1.55 ml of the 20mg/5ml syrup (providing 6.2 mg zinc) 1
Administration Guidelines
- Zinc supplements are best administered between meals rather than with food for optimal absorption 1
- Avoid giving zinc with foods high in phytates (such as whole grains, legumes) which can reduce absorption 1
- For routine supplementation, daily administration is recommended 2
Benefits and Monitoring
- Zinc supplementation in children has been shown to positively affect linear growth 3
- Regular zinc supplementation may help reduce the incidence of diarrheal episodes 4
- For children on long-term zinc supplementation, monitoring serum zinc levels and alkaline phosphatase periodically is recommended 2, 1
Special Considerations
- The maximum recommended dose for routine supplementation in children is 5 mg/day according to parenteral nutrition guidelines, though oral supplementation may safely exceed this slightly 2
- Higher doses (10-15 mg/day) may be considered for children at risk of zinc deficiency, but only for limited periods (typically 6 months) 2
- Vomiting is a potential side effect of zinc supplementation, particularly at higher doses, with studies showing dose-dependent increases in vomiting episodes 5
Safety and Efficacy
- Zinc supplementation at appropriate doses is generally well-tolerated in children 4
- Lower doses of zinc (5-10 mg) have been shown to be as effective as higher doses (20 mg) for certain conditions while causing fewer side effects such as vomiting 5
- Long-term supplementation should be monitored by a healthcare provider to prevent potential zinc toxicity or interactions with other nutrients 1