Zinc-iron, but not zinc-alone supplementation, increased linear growth of stunted infants with low haemoglobin.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in this randomized controlled trial publication.

However the effect may depend on whether zinc is the most limiting nutrient.

The study was a double-blind-community-intervention study involving 800 infants aged 3-6 months in rural East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 800 infants were involved.

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

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

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

Neither the infants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc could be set against what happens without it.

What Was Measured

Outcomes measured were length, weight, and micronutrient status (haemoglobin, se-rum zinc, ferritin and retinol).

The subject headings attached to it are Body Height, Dietary Supplements, Drug Synergism, Growth, Hemoglobins, Infant Nutrition Disorders and Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 800 infants.

With several hundred people or more, it is a fairly large study for this kind of research.

The publication is from 2007 (Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition), a journal based in China.

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