The calcium and phosphorus metabolism of prematurely born infants.

Studies of Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism 1

“…This experiment suggests that the calcium excreted on a low calcium diet is not available for the fetus, just as it is not available during growth for the building of bones (28 …”

“…The literature gives abundant proof of this both by experiments on animals (8) (15) (27) (28) and by experiments on people (6) (29) (30) (31) (32) (33). It is this negative calcium balance on a very low calcium intake which we wish especially to emphasize, and the varying degree of which under certain abnormal conditions we intend to make the subject of later papers.…”

“…It is their belief that sodium, potassium, magnesium and chlorine can be "husbanded" in the body, but that calcium and phosphorus and at least one of the monovalent cations (sodium or potassium) must be furnished in certain minimal quantities. Likewise Hamilton (28), from calcium balance studies on premature infants, concluded that a certain definite amount of calcium had to be excreted each day regardless of the intake and that only when calcium was furnished in excess of this amount was there a positive balance.…”

“…Hamilton (28) suggests that the calcium may be necessary to neutralize acids. Osborne and Mendel (27) offer a similar explanation for the cessation of growth in their rats on diets very low in both sodium and potassium.…”

The role of bone scanning in neonatal rickets

“…Unsuspected fractures of clinical or medicolegal significance may be detected. Two cases are described in which the technique confirmed the diagnosis and assisted management.Key words: Bone scan -Newborn -Rickets -Fractures Neonatal rickets is a well recognised complication of prematurity [6,12] and its associated problems [1,2,4]. It may be suspected in the presence of an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase [8], a reduced serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration [7] or abnormal chest radiology [5].…”