Hyperbilirubinemia is a common neonatal problem. Studies conducted on the effectiveness of zinc salts on serum indirect bilirubin levels in newborns have yielded different results, all calling for further research. This study aimed to determine the effect of oral zinc sulfate on indirect hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. A randomized double-blind clinical trial was performed in the neonatal intensive care unit of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand, Iran. The study population comprised neonates aged between 31 and 36 gestational weeks, who required phototherapy in the neonatal intensive care unit. A total of 60 neonates were selected by census and allocated into an experimental group and a control group. In addition to phototherapy, the experimental group received 1 cc/Kg zinc sulfate syrup (containing 5 mg/5 cc zinc sulfate; Merck Company, Germany), and the control group received a placebo syrup (containing 1 cc/kg sucrose). Data were analyzed in SPSS-21 software using the independent t-test, repeated-measures ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test, and Mann-Whitney test. P-values smaller than 0.05 were considered significant. Bilirubin level changes in the experimental and control groups six hours after intervention were − 1.45 ± 3.23 and − 0.49 ± 0.37 (p = 0.024), respectively. The changes 24 and 48 h after intervention were-3.26 ± 2.78 and − 1.89 ± 1.20 (p = 0.017) in the experimental group and − 4.89 ± 2.76 and − 3.98 ± 2.32 (p = 0.23) in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the phototherapy duration between the two groups (p = 0.24). The results of this study showed that the use of zinc sulfate syrup in preterm infants with indirect hyperbilirubinemia significantly reduced bilirubin levels within 48 h of treatment. Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT2015120825439N1. Registered 21 February 2016, http://irct.ir/trial/21277

中文翻译：

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硫酸锌对新生儿重症监护病房早产儿间接高胆红素血症的疗效：一项双盲，随机临床试验

高胆红素血症是常见的新生儿问题。关于锌盐对新生儿血清间接胆红素水平有效性的研究得出了不同的结果，所有这些都需要进一步的研究。这项研究旨在确定口服硫酸锌对新生儿重症监护病房收治的早产儿间接高胆红素血症的影响。随机双盲临床试验是在伊朗比尔扬（Birjand）的瓦利埃斯阿斯（Vari-e-Asr）医院新生儿重症监护室进行的。研究人群包括年龄在31至36个孕周之间的新生儿，他们需要在新生儿重症监护室进行光疗。通过普查选择总共60例新生儿，并将其分为实验组和对照组。除了光疗之外 实验组接受1 cc / Kg硫酸锌糖浆（含5 mg / 5 cc硫酸锌；德国默克公司），对照组接受安慰剂糖浆（含1 cc / kg蔗糖）。使用独立的t检验，重复测量方差分析，Bonferroni事后检验和Mann-Whitney检验在SPSS-21软件中分析数据。小于0.05的P值被认为是重要的。干预后六个小时，实验组和对照组的胆红素水平变化分别为-1.45±3.23和-0.49±0.37（p = 0.024）。干预后24小时和48小时的变化在实验组中分别为-3.26±2.78和-1.89±1.20（p ＝ 0.017），在对照组中分别为-4.89±2.76和-3.98±2.32（p ＝ 0.23）。两组之间的光疗时间无显着差异（p = 0.24）。这项研究的结果表明，在患有间接高胆红素血症的早产儿中使用硫酸锌糖浆可在治疗48小时内显着降低胆红素水平。试用注册：IRCT，IRCT2015120825439N1。2016年2月21日注册，http：//irct.ir/trial/21277