Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a key role in the immune, gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous systems. In Colombia, a vast percentage of children live in low-income households with food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies, including zinc. In an effort to improve children’s well-being, public health measures such as nutritional support programs that provide meals have targeted the poorest populations. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of nutritional support programs on zinc deficiency in Colombian children, while considering their wealth and food security. Cross-sectional study using data from the 2010 Colombian National Nutrition Survey, a population-based study representative of Colombia. A total of 4275 children between 12 and 59 months of age were included in the study. Stepwise logistic regressions were modelled with SPSS, first for zinc deficiency on wealth and food security, then adding enrolment in a nutritional support program, and finally, adjusting for socio-demographic variables. A zinc deficiency prevalence of 49% was found. The adjusted models showed an association of wealth quintiles: very poor (OR = 1.48) and poor (OR = 1.39), food security (OR = 0.75) and enrolment in a nutritional support program (OR = 0.76) with zinc deficiency. Enrolment in nutritional programs did not modify the relationship of wealth and food security to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency is associated with wealth, food security and enrolment in nutritional support programs. Nutritional programs may be a good alternative against zinc deficiency, if they focus appropriately on the needs of children according to their wealth and food security.

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营养支持计划与哥伦比亚儿童缺锌的关联：一项横断面研究

锌是一种必需的微量元素，在免疫、胃肠道、呼吸系统和神经系统中起着关键作用。在哥伦比亚，很大一部分儿童生活在粮食不安全和营养缺乏（包括锌）的低收入家庭中。为了改善儿童的福祉，提供膳食的营养支持计划等公共卫生措施针对最贫困的人群。本研究的目的是评估营养支持计划对哥伦比亚儿童缺锌的作用，同时考虑他们的财富和粮食安全。使用 2010 年哥伦比亚全国营养调查数据的横断面研究，该调查是哥伦比亚的一项以人口为基础的研究代表。共有 4275 名 12 至 59 个月大的儿童被纳入研究。使用 SPSS 对逐步逻辑回归进行建模，首先针对财富和粮食安全的缺锌，然后加入营养支持计划，最后调整社会人口变量。发现缺锌率为 49%。调整后的模型显示了财富五分位数的关联：非常贫困（OR = 1.48）和贫困（OR = 1.39）、粮食安全（OR = 0.75）和营养支持计划（OR = 0.76）与缺锌有关。参加营养计划并没有改变财富和粮食安全与缺锌的关系。锌缺乏与财富、粮食安全和营养支持计划的参与有关。营养计划可能是对抗锌缺乏症的一个很好的选择，