Metabolic Patterns in Preadolescent Children

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Abstract
The vitamin B12 content was determined for each of 6 controlled diets used in a series of metabolic studies with a total of 23 healthy 7- to 9-year-old girls. Urinary vitamin B12 excretions were determined for 11 girls receiving two of these diets that were low in protein. Diets with a daily average of 48 to 88 gm of total protein (about 65% from animal sources) contained from 3.9 to 4.5 µg of vitamin B12 per day. Diets of lower protein content with a daily average of 18 and 22 gm of total protein (about 40% from animal sources) contained 0.7 and 1.1 µg of vitamin B12 per day, respectively. The urinary excretion of vitamin B12 for the girls receiving low-protein diets was 9% of the dietary intake at the initiation of the controlled diet phase of the study and from 3 to 4% in latter phases. Diets, made up of ordinary foods patterned to meet the Food and Nutrition Board's recommended allowances for children 7 to 9 years of age, supplied about 4 µg of vitamin B12 daily.