Calcium balance studies on children accustomed to low calcium intakes

Abstract

1. Calcium balance studies were carried out on twenty-eight apparently normal preschool children who had been for several months on a low Ca intake of 200 mg/child per day.2. Three-day balances showed that all subjects were in positive balance. The absorption was 50% of the intake.3. When the dietary intake was increased to 280 mg/day there was a greater absorption and retention of Ca. Serum Ca, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were within the normal range for this age group.4. Fourteen of the subjects were on wheat supplemented with lysine. The addition of a single amino acid to the diet was shown not to improve the absorption and retention of Ca over that of the controls.