Effect of zinc supplementation on respiratory tract infections in children with cystic fibrosis.

What Was Tested

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

Zn deficiency can occur in subsets of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) especially those with malabsorption and impaired growth.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 26 children were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are children and teenagers.

How the Study Was Run

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

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

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

It is described as a pilot, a small early test of whether a larger Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc study would be practical.

Plasma Zn, Cu, inflammatory cytokines and ex vivo generation of IL-2 were measured at baseline and at the end of the study.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Cystic Fibrosis, Cytokines, Dietary Supplements, Minerals, Respiratory Tract Infections and Zinc.

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 26 children.

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 publication is from 2008 (Pediatric pulmonology), a journal based in United States.

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