Zinc supplementation impairs monocyte function.

What Was Tested

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

This study was conducted to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on phagocytic, fungicidal and metabolic activity of blood monocytes of marasmic infants during nutritional rehabilitation.

Why It Was Studied

A controlled, double-blind design was used in which 19 infants fed a zinc-fortified formula were compared with 20 infants fed the same, unfortified formula.

Evaluation of phagocytic-fungicidal capacity, growth, zinc, copper and iron status was performed in both groups on admission and after 60 and 105 days of nutritional rehabilitation.

Who Took Part

The study group was 19 infants.

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

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as double-blind.

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

What Was Measured

Evaluation of phagocytic-fungicidal capacity, growth, zinc, copper and iron status was performed in both groups on admission and after 60 and 105 days of nutritional rehabilitation.

The subject headings attached to it are Candida albicans, Copper, Food, Formulated, Iron, Monocytes, Nutritional Status and Phagocytosis.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a double-blind study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 19 infants.

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 1993 (Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)), a journal based in Norway.

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