Effect of zinc supplementation on the morbidity, immune function, and growth of low-birth-weight, full-term infants in northeast Brazil.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in this randomized controlled trial publication.

In Brazil, the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) occurs in the northeast, and diarrhea and respiratory infections are the main causes of infant mortality and morbidity.

The researchers hypothesized that LBW infants may be zinc deficient, and that this might be adversely affecting their immune function, morbidity, and postnatal growth.

Who Took Part

PubMed indexes the participants as infants, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.

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

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

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

Immune function was assessed at 8 wk by the phytohemagglutinin skin test.

What Was Measured

The researchers therefore examined the effect of zinc supplementation on these outcomes during the first 6 mo of life.

Anthropometric measurements were made at 0, 4, 8, 17, and 26 wk.

The subject headings attached to it are Cough, Diarrhea, Dietary Supplements, Growth, Immunity, Infant, Low Birth Weight 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.

The publication is from 1998 (The American journal of clinical nutrition), a journal based in United States.

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