Maternal zinc supplementation reduces diarrheal morbidity in peruvian infants.

Objective: To test whether zinc supplementation during pregnancy would reduce infant morbidity rates.

Study Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of prenatal zinc supplementation was conducted from 1995 to 1997 in a periurban slum of Lima, Peru. Participants were randomly assigned to receive daily supplementation with zinc (15 mg zinc + 60 mg iron + 250 microg folic acid) or placebo (60 iron + 250 microg folic acid) from 10 to 24 weeks gestation until 1 month postpartum.