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

NCT ID: NCT03956732

Last Updated: 2020-04-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

200 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-06-20

Study Completion Date

2020-04-03

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

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

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

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.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Bone Health Muscle Function Cardiometabolic Health Appetite Regulation

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
D-pro will be double-blinded in respect to D vitamin supplementation or placebo, whereas the allocation of yoghurt with high versus medium milk protein content will not be blinded.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

High protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplement

Subjects will receive high protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Milk Protein (high)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

High protein yoghurt which contains approx. 10 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Vitamin D

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

One daily tablet containing 20 μg of vitamin D3, cholecalciferol.

High protein yoghurt and placebo supplement

Subjects will receive high protein yoghurt and placebo tablets of identical appearance and taste but without vitamin D.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Milk Protein (high)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

High protein yoghurt which contains approx. 10 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D supplement

Subjects will receive medium protein yoghurt and vitamin D tablets.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Vitamin D

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

One daily tablet containing 20 μg of vitamin D3, cholecalciferol.

Milk Protein (medium)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ordinary yoghurt containing approx. 3.3 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Medium protein yoghurt and placebo supplement

Subjects will receive medium protein yoghurt and placebo tablets of identical appearance and taste but without vitamin D.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Milk Protein (medium)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Ordinary yoghurt containing approx. 3.3 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Milk Protein (high)

High protein yoghurt which contains approx. 10 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Vitamin D

One daily tablet containing 20 μg of vitamin D3, cholecalciferol.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Milk Protein (medium)

Ordinary yoghurt containing approx. 3.3 g protein per 100 g. Participants will be asked to consume 300 g (=3 dl) 6 days a week.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

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
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

8 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Aarhus

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Arla Foods

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Arla Foods Ingredients

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Copenhagen

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Camilla Trab Damsgaard

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Camilla T Damsgaard, Assoc Prof

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Nutrition, Exercise and sports, University of Copenhagen

Christian Mølgaard, Prof

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department of Nutrition, Exercise and sports, University of Copenhagen

Mette Hansen, Assoc Prof

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen

Frederiksberg, , Denmark

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Denmark

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Clerico JW, Thams L, Stounbjerg NG, Hauger H, Damsgaard CT, Molgaard C. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on acute respiratory tract infections in 6-8-year-old children: a randomized clinical trial. Eur J Nutr. 2025 May 1;64(4):170. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03674-1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40310565 (View on PubMed)

Thams L, Hvid LG, Stounbjerg NG, Brond JC, Molgaard C, Damsgaard CT, Hansen M. Vitamin D supplementation and increased dairy protein intake do not affect muscle strength or physical function in healthy 6-8-year-old children: the D-pro randomized trial. Eur J Nutr. 2022 Oct;61(7):3613-3623. doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-02912-0. Epub 2022 May 28.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35643873 (View on PubMed)

Thams L, Stounbjerg NG, Hvid LG, Molgaard C, Hansen M, Damsgaard CT. Effects of high dairy protein intake and vitamin D supplementation on body composition and cardiometabolic markers in 6-8-y-old children-the D-pro trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 Apr 1;115(4):1080-1091. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab424.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35015806 (View on PubMed)

Stounbjerg NG, Thams L, Hansen M, Larnkjaer A, Clerico JW, Cashman KD, Molgaard C, Damsgaard CT. Effects of vitamin D and high dairy protein intake on bone mineralization and linear growth in 6- to 8-year-old children: the D-pro randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Dec 1;114(6):1971-1985. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab286.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34581765 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

D224

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Calcium, Protein and Gut Hormones
NCT03232034 COMPLETED NA
Breakfast for Young Females
NCT04518605 COMPLETED NA
Milk and Plant Protein Digestion
NCT06272331 COMPLETED NA