Ergocalciferol Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients With Vitamin D Deficiency: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

What Was Tested

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

The researchers conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of supplementation with ergocalciferol on epoetin utilization and other secondary outcomes in patients on hemodialysis with serum 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml.

Why It Was Studied

Locally produced 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may have pleiotropic effects outside of bone.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 276 patients were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are middle-aged adults.

In all, 276 patients were randomized to 6 months of ergocalciferol or placebo.

How the Study Was Run

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

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

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

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

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Dietary Supplements, Ergocalciferols, Renal Dialysis, Vitamin D Deficiency and Vitamins.

Author keywords: anemia, hyperparathyroidism and randomized controlled trials.

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 276 patients.

The publication is from 2016 (Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN), a journal based in United States.

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