Effect of zinc supplementation on protein metabolism in late-middle-aged men: The Zenith study.

What Was Tested

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

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element that is a potent enhancer of protein metabolism due to its numerous roles in metabolic processes.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 16 subjects were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are middle-aged adults and older adults, men only.

Three groups of 16 healthy subjects 55-70 y of age participated in a randomized, doubled-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention.

At the end of the supplementation period, each subject received an intravenous infusion of L-[1-13C] leucine to quantify whole-body leucine fluxes and synthesis rates of albumin and fibrinogen.

How the Study Was Run

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

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

As a double-blind Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.

Some subjects received a placebo instead of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc, giving a reference point.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Aging, Albumins, Analysis of Variance, Biomarkers, Carbon Isotopes, Dietary Supplements and Fibrinogen.

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 16 subjects.

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 5 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2008 (Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)), a journal based in United States.

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