Iron and/or zinc supplementation did not reduce blood lead concentrations in children in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, published as a randomized controlled trial.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of zinc and/or iron supplementation on PbB of children attending schools in the neighborhood of a smelter complex for 6 mo.

Why It Was Studied

Iron deficiency and elevated blood lead concentrations (PbB) reportedly occur together, and zinc also plays an important role in lead metabolism.

The researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial in 9 elementary schools located within a 3.5-km radius of a metal foundry in Torreón, Mexico.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are children, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

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

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group a baseline to be compared against.

What Was Measured

Baseline and final measures included nutritional status and PbB.

The subject headings attached to it are Dietary Supplements, Environmental Exposure, Iron, Iron Deficiencies, Lead, Mexico and Nutritional Status.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

The publication is from 2006 (The Journal of nutrition), a journal based in United States.

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