Effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on bone turnover in institutionalized adults with Down's Syndrome.

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial looks at Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

To assess the status of vitamin D and the effects of calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation on the bone metabolism in a group of adults with Down's syndrome (DS).

Who Took Part

The study group was 12 participants.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, both men and women.

Institution for mentally handicapped: Fundación Uliazpi, Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa, San Sebastián, Spain.

A total of 23 persons with DS, residents at the Uliazpi Foundation were recruited and all completed the study.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized and parallel-group study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group and the comparison group should start out alike.

The Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

Randomized, parallel, controlled and open clinical trial.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Bone Density, Bone and Bones, Calcifediol, Calcium, Calcium, Dietary, Dietary Supplements and Down Syndrome.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and parallel-group study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 12 participants.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 3 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2006 (European journal of clinical nutrition), a journal based in England.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, all human trials.