Component

Child diarrheal illness days

Independent cellular process record; interpretation is limited by each linked claim and its study context.

4 recorded relationships. Experimental role, claim status and evidence remain attached to each record.

Read recorded mechanisms Open recursive mind map

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What acts on it

  1. Diarrhea beyond five days occurred in 6.5%, 7.7% and 7.2% of the 20, 10 and 5 mg groups. The lower doses met the four-percentage-point noninferiority margin; stool counts also met the two-stool margin.

    Zinc sulfate → Child diarrheal illness days source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    Total loose or watery stools after enrollment (co_primary_endpoint)
    evidence_location
    Indexed primary abstract; accessible manuscript Methods and Results also inspected.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/dhingra2020.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "48deafc698125c49384f5678bf65f3af2a4fc3359510f29a9a94a6b4991ee03e", "utf8_bytes": 2238}
    experimental_model
    Double-blind randomized multicenter noninferiority trial in 4500 children aged 6–59 months in India and Tanzania
    exposure
    5, 10 or 20 mg zinc/day using zinc sulfate for 14 days.
    limitations
    Active-dose comparisons without a placebo arm. Noninferiority depends on the prespecified margin; not proof that doses are identical. Historical regimens are not current dosing guidance.
    nutrient_topic
    Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Zinc
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    The tested lower doses preserved trial-defined efficacy.
    primary_references
    [zn-clin-dhingra2020] Lower-Dose Zinc for Childhood Diarrhea - A Randomized, Multicenter Trial. (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32966722/ DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1915905
    published_estimates
    10 versus 20 mg: risk difference 1.2 percentage points, upper 98.75% CI 3.3; 5 versus 20 mg: 0.7, upper 2.8. Mean stools 10.7, 10.9, 10.8 (20,10,5 mg); reported differences 0.3 (upper 1.0) and 0.1 (upper 0.8). Indexed published version used; source-version differences retained in paper notes.
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Acute diarrheal illness and vomiting

    Zinc: transport, enzyme loading, deficiency and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 1512–1526

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Double-blind randomized multicenter noninferiority trial in 4500 children aged 6–59 months in India and Tanzania · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### zn-clin-diarrhea-dose-efficacy Diarrhea beyond five days occurred in 6.5%, 7.7% and 7.2% of the 20, 10 and 5 mg groups. The lower doses met the four-percentage-point noninferiority margin; stool counts also met the two-stool margin. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: The tested lower doses preserved trial-defined efficacy. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Acute diarrheal illness and vomiting experimental_model: Double-blind randomized multicenter noninferiority trial in 4500 children aged 6–59 months in India and Tanzania limitations: Active-dose comparisons without a placebo arm. Noninferiority depends on the prespecified margin; not proof that doses are identical. Historical regimens are not current dosing guidance. exposure: 5, 10 or 20 mg zinc/day using zinc sulfate for 14 days. cross_nutrient: Total loose or watery stools after enrollment (co_primary_endpoint) evidence_location: Indexed primary abstract; accessible manuscript Methods and Results also inspected. evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/dhingra2020.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "48deafc698125c49384f5678bf65f3af2a4fc3359510f29a9a94a6b4991ee03e", "utf8_bytes": 2238} published_estimates: 10 versus 20 mg: risk difference 1.2 percentage points, upper 98.75% CI 3.3; 5 versus 20 mg: 0.7, upper 2.8. Mean stools 10.7, 10.9, 10.8 (20,10,5 mg); reported differences 0.3 (upper 1.0) and 0.1 (upper 0.8). Indexed published version used; source-version differences retained in paper notes. [zn-clin-dhingra2020] Lower-Dose Zinc for Childhood Diarrhea - A Randomized, Multicenter Trial. (2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32966722/ DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1915905
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. Zinc reduced continued-diarrhea risk by 23% (95% CI 12–32%); the reduction was 7% (−9 to 22%) on days 1–3 and 38% (27–48%) thereafter. Starting within three days reduced episodes lasting over seven days by 39% (7–61%).

    Zinc → Child diarrheal illness days source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    Zinc exposure and the specifically measured response.
    evidence_location
    Indexed primary abstract.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/sazawal1995.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "8c21c0c3ec6dedca7f245298445dfe9f71d64ff618734cd66b0eac35952c5bc8", "utf8_bytes": 2090}
    experimental_model
    Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi
    exposure
    20 mg elemental zinc/day; all children received oral rehydration and vitamin supplements.
    limitations
    Not every child had confirmed zinc deficiency. Specific zinc salt is not verified from abstract; efficacy belongs to this regimen and background care.
    nutrient_topic
    Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Zinc
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    The zinc group recovered sooner, with differences depending on treatment timing.
    primary_references
    [zn-clin-sazawal1995] Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7651474/ DOI: 10.1056/nejm199509283331304
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Acute diarrheal illness

    Zinc: transport, enzyme loading, deficiency and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 1482–1495

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### zn-clin-diarrhea-duration Zinc reduced continued-diarrhea risk by 23% (95% CI 12–32%); the reduction was 7% (−9 to 22%) on days 1–3 and 38% (27–48%) thereafter. Starting within three days reduced episodes lasting over seven days by 39% (7–61%). Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: The zinc group recovered sooner, with differences depending on treatment timing. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Acute diarrheal illness experimental_model: Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi limitations: Not every child had confirmed zinc deficiency. Specific zinc salt is not verified from abstract; efficacy belongs to this regimen and background care. exposure: 20 mg elemental zinc/day; all children received oral rehydration and vitamin supplements. cross_nutrient: Zinc exposure and the specifically measured response. evidence_location: Indexed primary abstract. evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/sazawal1995.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "8c21c0c3ec6dedca7f245298445dfe9f71d64ff618734cd66b0eac35952c5bc8", "utf8_bytes": 2090} [zn-clin-sazawal1995] Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7651474/ DOI: 10.1056/nejm199509283331304
    Complete structured claim and evidence

Where it participates (unsigned role)

  1. Mean watery stools per day fell by 39% (95% CI 6–70%; P=.02), and days with watery diarrhea by 21% (10–31%) in the zinc group. Benefits were larger in stunted children.

    Zinc → Child watery stool frequency source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    cross_nutrient
    Child diarrheal illness days (additional_endpoint)
    evidence_location
    Indexed primary abstract.
    evidence_span
    {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/sazawal1995.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "8c21c0c3ec6dedca7f245298445dfe9f71d64ff618734cd66b0eac35952c5bc8", "utf8_bytes": 2090}
    experimental_model
    Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi
    exposure
    20 mg elemental zinc/day; all children received oral rehydration and vitamin supplements.
    limitations
    Not every child had confirmed zinc deficiency. Specific zinc salt is not verified from abstract; efficacy belongs to this regimen and background care.
    nutrient_topic
    Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Zinc
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    The trial found fewer watery stools as well as shorter illness.
    primary_references
    [zn-clin-sazawal1995] Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7651474/ DOI: 10.1056/nejm199509283331304
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Acute diarrheal illness

    Zinc: transport, enzyme loading, deficiency and nutrient interactions (2026-09-17) · lines 1497–1510

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### zn-clin-diarrhea-stools Mean watery stools per day fell by 39% (95% CI 6–70%; P=.02), and days with watery diarrhea by 21% (10–31%) in the zinc group. Benefits were larger in stunted children. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Zinc research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: The trial found fewer watery stools as well as shorter illness. organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Acute diarrheal illness experimental_model: Double-blind randomized controlled trial in 937 children aged 6–35 months in New Delhi limitations: Not every child had confirmed zinc deficiency. Specific zinc salt is not verified from abstract; efficacy belongs to this regimen and background care. exposure: 20 mg elemental zinc/day; all children received oral rehydration and vitamin supplements. cross_nutrient: Child diarrheal illness days (additional_endpoint) evidence_location: Indexed primary abstract. evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/zinc-clinical-sources/sazawal1995.abstract.txt", "locator": "Primary indexed abstract; complete local file", "file_sha256": "8c21c0c3ec6dedca7f245298445dfe9f71d64ff618734cd66b0eac35952c5bc8", "utf8_bytes": 2090} [zn-clin-sazawal1995] Zinc supplementation in young children with acute diarrhea in India. (1995). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7651474/ DOI: 10.1056/nejm199509283331304
    Complete structured claim and evidence

  2. In the Ghana trial, lysine supplementation was associated with fewer child diarrheal episodes and illness days than placebo.

    L-Lysine → Child diarrheal morbidity source_derived_draftungraded
    Experimental context and source evidence
    experimental_model
    Randomized placebo-controlled community trial
    limitations
    Context-specific clinical result; does not establish receptor antagonism, intestinal repair mechanism, or broad infection prevention.
    organism
    Homo sapiens
    plain_language
    A benefit appeared for this child morbidity endpoint in the studied community.
    primary_references
    [ghosh2010] Effect of lysine supplementation on health and morbidity in subjects belonging to poor peri-urban households in Accra, Ghana (2010). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523019640 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28834
    tissue_or_cell_type
    Gastrointestinal illness outcomes

    L-Lysine: mechanism-first literature curation (2026-09-17) · lines 719–727

    AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Randomized placebo-controlled community trial · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft

    ### ghana-child-diarrhea In the Ghana trial, lysine supplementation was associated with fewer child diarrheal episodes and illness days than placebo. Plain language: A benefit appeared for this child morbidity endpoint in the studied community. Condition category: normal organism: Homo sapiens tissue_or_cell_type: Gastrointestinal illness outcomes experimental_model: Randomized placebo-controlled community trial limitations: Context-specific clinical result; does not establish receptor antagonism, intestinal repair mechanism, or broad infection prevention. [ghosh2010] Effect of lysine supplementation on health and morbidity in subjects belonging to poor peri-urban households in Accra, Ghana (2010). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523019640 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28834
    Complete structured claim and evidence

In the sources

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