Oral Zinc Supplementation as an Adjunct to Standard Therapy in Children with Steroid-Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of oral zinc supplementation on reducing relapse frequency in children aged 1-12 years with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). 84 participants were randomized to receive oral zinc (7 mg/day for 1-3 years and 10 mg/day for 4-12 years), or placebo for six months along with standard therapy. Although median (q1, q3) number of relapses during the 6-month study period was similar in zinc and placebo groups [1 (0, 1.5) vs 1 (1, 1); P = 0.575], infection-related relapses were less frequent in the zinc group (57% vs 80%). No significant differences were observed in cumulative steroid-dose, growth or adverse effects. Zinc reduces infection-associated relapses with no overall reduction in relapse rates.Trial Registry CTRI/2021/01/030586.