Decreasing Zinc Levels in Stunting Toddlers in Lampung Province, Indonesia
Khairun Nisa Berawi1, Maya Nurul Hidayati2, Susianti3, Roro Rukmi W. Perdami4, Tiwuk Susantiningsih5 and Ani Melani Maskoen61Departement of Physiology, Biochemistry and Biology Molecular, Medical Faculty, Universitas Lampung.
2Medical Faculty, Universitas Lampung.
3Departement of Histology, Medical Faculty, Universitas Lampung.
4Departement of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Universitas Lampung.
5Department of Biochemistry, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional, Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia.
6Medical Faculty, University of Padjadjaran, Bandung.
Corresponding Author E-mail: mayanurul97@gmail.com
Abstract: Stunting is a condition of chronic malnutrition in children that causes the posture is not optimal and triggers other disorders such as deacreasing of immunity and intelligence. The level of adequacy of zinc is one of the factors that influence the incidence of stunting. Zinc is needed to activate and begin the synthesis of Growth Hormone (GH) so that children with zinc deficiency cause GH receptors to be disrupted and GH production to be resistant. This study aims to examine the decrease in zinc levels by looking at the difference in mean zinc levels in stunting and non-stunting toddlers. The research method was carried out observational analytic with a cross sectional approach used in this study. The study sample was 40 toddlers aged 24-60 months with 18 stunting toddlers and 22 non-stunting toddlers in Gunung Sugih District, Central Lampung Regency. The results of univariate analysis revealed that the average zinc level of toddlers serum was 52.60 ug / dl with the largest value of 76 ug / dl and the lowest value was 24 ug / dl. The results of bivariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the mean zinc levels of stunting and non-stunting children (p = 0.01). The mean zinc content of stunting infants was 45.06 ± 12.21 lower than the mean zinc level of non-stunting infants 58.77 ± 12.98. There is a decrease in serum zinc levels in stunting toddlers compared to non stunting toddlers.
Keywords: Chronic Malnutrition; Stabilizing Cell Membranes; Toddlers Back to TOC