Zinc deficiency in exclusively breast-fed infants.

Abstract

Zinc deficiency in breast-fed infants is an important disorder. Unlike acrodermatitis enteropathica, it is transient and stops when nursing ends. We report two cases of premature infants, breast-fed only, who showed skin lesions resembling acrodermatitis enteropathica. Results of laboratory investigations revealed a lowered zinc level in the infants' serum and in the mothers' milk and a normal level of zinc in the mothers' serum. After the infants were given zinc supplements and their diets diversified, the skin lesions regressed and their serum zinc levels became normal.