WITHDRAWN: Zinc Supplementation in Preterm Neonates with Jaundice: Is It Beneficial?

Abstract Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common neonatal disease which had adverse effect in the neonates especially preterm neonates when the level of indirect bilirubin is high enough to pass the blood brain barrier causing bilirubin encephalopathy or kernicterus. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the value of zinc (Zn) supplementation in preterm neonates with jaundice and if it will be beneficial or not. Patients and methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial (RCT) study, identification number is TCTR20200504007, which was done at Tanta University Hospital (TUH) from July 2016 to March 2018 on 200 preterm neonates suffering from neonatal jaundice. The studied neonates were divided into 2 groups: group 1, which received Zn and phototherapy, and group 2, which received phototherapy only and did not take Zn. In the group 1, 100 preterm neonates with jaundice received Zn as 0.6 ml(cm 3 ) of zinc origin/kg/day orally through oro/nasogastric tube divided into 2 doses (/12 hours) which is equal 1.2 mg elemental zinc/kg/day orally for 10 day. Results: There was no significant difference in serum bilirubin between the 2 groups in the 2 nd , 4 th and 6 th day of admission while the serum bilirubin was significantly decreased in neonates who were treated by Zn and phototherapy in group 1, compared with neonates of group 2 who were treated with phototherapy only in the 8 th , 9 th and 10 th day of admission where the p value was 0.045* ,0.027* and 0.004* respectively. Conclusion: Zn administration in jaundiced preterm neonates is beneficial in decreasing serum bilirubin. Recommendation: Zn supplementation for jaundiced preterm neonates.