On the nutritional requirements of young children with particular reference to calcification.

Abstract

Two nutritional surveys have been carried out on 158 children of one to six years in Halifax, including dietary records, anthropometric measurements, roentgenograms of the bones of the hand, and laboratory tests. Observations were repeated after six months. Deficiencies in calories, calcium, and vitamin D occurred most frequently on the basis of the Canadian dietary standard. Seventy-eight per cent of the children received less than 1 gm. of calcium per day. The ratio Ca : P averaged 0.77. The consumption of vitamin D varied widely and was less than 400 I.U. in 47% in the first survey and 84% in the second. The average intake was less than 200 I.U. per day. From data of repetitions it was apparent that half of the children showed adequate growth and calcification on substandard diets while 30% did not. It was evident that normal maturation of bone could take place on intakes of vitamin D of 25 to 150 I.U. and of calcium of less than 1 gm. Calcium was adequate at 0.2 to 0.7 gm. per day in some cases but not in others.