Background: Zinc is an essential cofactor for several hundred enzymes with a multitude of functions. Zinc is vitally important for proper immune functions, because of its role in skin and mucosal barrier function as well as humoral and cellular immunity. Zinc deficiency limits growth and development in infancy and childhood. Severe zinc deficiency may be observed in preterm infants especially if necrotizing enterocolitis coexisted. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of extra zinc doses to improve immunity, decrease disease incidence and death rate and show its effect on development and growth of preterm and term neonates. Methods: The present study was a single blinded randomized controlled interventional trail that was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric department, Zagazig University children hospital in period between february 2016 to February 2017. 90 neonates were included in the study. There were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 45 neonates who received oral zinc sulfate supplementaion on dose of 1.5mg/kg/day. Group 2 included 45 neonates who didn’t receive oral zinc supplementation. Results: This study revealed that there was a considerable decrease in morbidity and death rates in correlation with the use of zinc. Conclusions: Zinc supplementation can decrease the rate of morbidity and mortality, Zinc is vitally essential for proper immunity and growth