Neither a zinc supplement nor phytate-reduced maize nor their combination enhance growth of 6- to 12-month-old Guatemalan infants.

What Was Tested

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

After age 6 mo, the combination of breast-feeding and unfortified plant-based complementary feeding provides inadequate zinc (Zn).

Additionally, high phytate intakes compromise the bioavailability of zinc.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 412 infants taking part.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were infants.

How the Study Was Run

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

Because people in this Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

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

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

In the Western Highlands of Guatemala, 412 infants were randomized to receive low-phytate or control maize.

Length, weight, and head circumference were measured at 6, 9, and 12 mo of age.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Body Size, Combined Modality Therapy, Diet, Dietary Supplements, Growth Disorders, Guatemala and Head.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc and Copper (Supplement) in 412 infants.

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

The publication is from 2010 (The Journal of nutrition), a journal based in United States.

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