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Abstract Z inc (Zn) is an essential trace mineral necessary for the proper functioning of multiple aspects of metabolism. It is present in numerous metalloenzymes, including major enzyme-classes. Zinc is the most universal of all trace elements involved in human metabolism. It is required for the normal structure and function of Zn containing enzymes, including those involved in gene expression, cell division, apoptosis, and synaptic signaling. Body weight regulation is based on the ability of the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, to integrate behavioral, endocrine, and autonomic responses via afferent and efferent pathways from and to the brainstem and peripheral organs. Leptin is a hormone made by fat cells which regulates the amount of fat stored in the body Leptin regulates the amount of fat stored in the body by adjusting both the sensation of hunger, and adjusting energy expenditures. Hunger is inhibited (satiety) when the amount of fat stored reaches a certain level. Leptin is then secreted and circulates through the body, eventually activating leptin receptors in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Energy expenditure is increased both by the signal to the brain, and directly via leptin receptors on peripheral targets. The effect of leptin is opposite to that of ghrelin, the ”hunger hormone”. Ghrelin receptors are on the same brain cells as leptin receptors, so these cells receive competing satiety and hunger signals. Zinc has an important part in the regulation of nutrition. Marginal zinc deficiency is associated as much with decreased appetite as with low body mass and both of these negative situations can be corrected with zinc supplementation. We conducted our prospective randomized case-control clinical trial on 40 primary malnourished Egyptian children aged between 2 to 6 years old following up at the pediatric nutrition clinic, Ain Shams University hospitals. These children were classified to two groups, Patients in group A were on a daily supplementation of oral zinc sulfate syrup 20 mg/day, to be taken during or after food without other medication for months, with strict regular follow-up of zinc intake while Patients in group B were received placebo. Before and after the supplementation or the placebo intake, both groups were subjected to the personal history, 24 hour recall for zinc, CEBQ, general examination, anthropometric measures, serum level of zinc and serum level leptin hormone. The results were tabulated, graphically represented and analyzed using appropriate computer statistical methods. We found that serum zinc level is low and serum level of leptin hormone is high in both case and control group before administration of zinc. We found that zinc supplementation highly increases appitite through CEBQ in the test group in comparison to control group. We found that zinc supplementation increases the anthropometric measures and positively affects growth in the test group in comparison to control group. We found a highly significant increase of serum zinc level in the test group after zinc supplementation in comparison to control group. We found a highly significant decrease in the serum level of leptin hormone in the test group after zinc supplementation in comparison to control group. |