The Utilization of the Calcium of Milk by Adults

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Abstract
Seven healthy adults—four women and three men, ranging in age from 21 to 42 years—were subjected to a calcium metabolism experiment for determining their utilization of the calcium of milk. Two different levels of calcium were fed—the lower one, supplied by a basal dietary, averaged 270 mg.; the higher one was obtained by supplementing this basal dietary with enough pasteurized fluid milk to produce a slightly negative balance. The quantity of milk which each subject received was determined by the magnitude of his calcium losses during the basal period; this quantity ranged from 180 to 500 gm. daily. The basal period lasted 34 days, and milk supplemented it an additional 24 to 34 days. On respective, daily, total calcium intakes of 248, 264, 278, 274, 231, 309 and 289 mg., the subjects were in negative balance to the extent of 67, 88, 80, 67, 120, 65 and 141 mg. During the milk period, the calcium intakes were 451, 568, 574, 580, 498, 603 and 873 mg. with resulting balances of −36, +5, +24, −13, −39, −5 and −22 mg. By relating differences in calcium intakes to the differences in the corresponding calcium losses, the following values for the utilization of milk calcium were obtained: 15.3, 30.6, 35.1, 17.6, 30.3, 20.1 and 20.4%. No explanation could be found for the division of the subjects into high and low utilizers.