The Utilization of the Calcium of Dicalcium Phosphate by Children

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Abstract
Six little boys, ranging in age from 3½ to 6½ years, were fed two levels of calcium, both of which were below the minimal requirement for maximal retention but obviously in excess of a possible maintenance requirement. The lower level contributed, as an average, 350 mg. of calcium daily, the higher one, 500 mg. daily; the difference was due, mainly, to the daily supplementation of the basal dietary with 543 mg. of di-calcium phosphate. The utilization of the calcium averaged 19.5%; individual values were 16.8, 17.9, 23.0, 19.5, 22.6 and 17.3%. These same children had previously served as subjects in a study of the availability of milk calcium and had been able to utilize only 19.8% of that calcium; therefore, it may be concluded that di-calcium phosphate is not superior to milk as a source of calcium for children and that, except for the person who is allergic to milk, there is little virtue in recommending the replacement of milk in the diet by dicalcium phosphate.

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