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Effects of Milk Protein and Vitamin D on Children's Growth and Health

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cardiometabolic Health
Muscle Function
Appetite Regulation
Bone Health
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Milk Protein (high)
Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D
Dietary Supplement: Milk Protein (medium)
Registration Number
NCT03956732
Lead Sponsor
University of Copenhagen
Brief Summary

The purpose of D-pro is to investigate the combined and separate effects of milk protein and vitamin D on bone health, growth, muscle function, body composition and cardiometabolic health in 6-8-year-old children.

Detailed Description

The D-pro study investigates the effects of high or medium intakes of milk protein, and vitamin D supplements or placebo, in healthy 6-8 year-old Danish children. The study is a 2×2-factorial randomized controlled trial with 4 study arms. The subjects will be randomly allocated to receive yoghurt products with either high or medium protein content (300g/day, 6 days/week) and to receive tablets with either vitamin D (20 μg/day) or placebo for 24 weeks. Measurements and biological sampling will be performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention.

The primary outcome will be bone mineral density (BMD). The investigators will also measure effects on children's muscle function, cardiometabolic health, body composition, growth and growth factors, nutrient status, immune defence and risk of acute respiratory tract infections, as well as appetite hormones. The investigators will also assess potential sex-specific effects and the potential modifying effect of genotype.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
200
Inclusion Criteria

Children must:

  • Be 6-8 years of age at the start of the intervention
  • Be healthy
  • Have a frequent intake of milk and yoghurt products, corresponding to at least ¼ liter a day
  • Like yoghurt and high protein yoghurt ("skyr")
  • Be of white, Danish or European origin

Moreover:

  • The family must not be planning a winter vacation south of a latitude of 50° North
  • The child must speak and understand Danish in order to understand the study procedures
  • At least one parent must read, speak and write Danish
Exclusion Criteria
  • Known or suspected allergy or intolerance to milk or milk components
  • Chronic illness or disease that may affect study outcomes
  • Chronic intake of medicine that may affect study outcomes
  • Use of vitamin D-containing supplements >3 days/week the 2 last months and use of any vitamin D-containing supplements the last 1 month before intervention start
  • Concomitant participation in other studies involving dietary supplements or blood sampling
  • Living in a household with another participating child

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplementMilk Protein (high)Subjects will receive high protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.
High protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplementVitamin DSubjects will receive high protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.
High protein yoghurt and placebo supplementMilk Protein (high)Subjects will receive high protein yoghurt and placebo tablets of identical appearance and taste but without vitamin D.
Medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplementVitamin DSubjects will receive medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.
Medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplementMilk Protein (medium)Subjects will receive medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.
Medium protein yoghurt and placebo supplementMilk Protein (medium)Subjects will receive medium protein yoghurt and placebo tablets of identical appearance and taste but without vitamin D.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Bone Mineral Density (BMD)24 weeks

Measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Total cholesterol24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Waist circumference24 weeks
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Fat free mass index24 weeks

by DXA

Bone Mineral Content (BMC)24 weeks

by DXA

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Blood pressure24 weeks
Height24 weeks

by stadiometer

Serum calcium24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Osteocalcin24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Maximal jumping length24 weeks

Measured by standing long jump

Muscle endurance24 weeks

Measured by 30 sec. sit-to-stand

Insulin24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Fat mass index24 weeks

by DXA

Bone area24 weeks

by DXA

C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen in serum (s-CTX)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Maximal jumping height24 weeks

Measured by squat jump with linear encoder

Glucose24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Maximal leg press strength24 weeks

Measured by isometric leg press

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Maximal grip strength24 weeks

Measured by hand grip dynamometer

Triacylglycerol (TG)24 weeks

by fasting blood sample

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen

🇩🇰

Frederiksberg, Denmark

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