Some Biochemical Findings in Burlington (Vt.) Junior High School Children

Abstract
The biochemical data for 401 boys and girls in grades 7, 8 and 9 in Burlington are presented. Certainly for this younger teenage group, the question of marginal vitamin deficiencies seems to be limited to a small percentage of the participants. Boys rated better than girls with respect to hemoglobin, hematocrit, thiamine, by both the erythrocyte transketolase method and the thiamine:creatinine ratio, and riboflavin. Girls rated better for ascorbic acid. Both sexes were nearly alike with respect to plasma vitamin A and carotene levels. A larger percentage of girls had cholesterol levels above 170 mg. per 100 ml. plasma. The erythrocyte transketolase method appears to be a more satisfactory method for determining thiamine status than the use of spot urine samples. Only 4 per cent of the children had nothing to eat before the mid-morning interview and sample taking. Only 13 per cent had taken a vitamin or mineral supplement on the morning of the interview.

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