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Nutritional Intake of Children

II. Calcium, Phosphorus and Iron¹

Four Figures

The Child Research Council and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver

Data have been presented from 795 nutrition histories on 58 children in the first 5 years of life. Calcium, phosphorus and iron intakes have been computed in terms of quartiles and maximum and minimum levels observed. In addition, some of the individual patterns of calcium intake have been shown.

Intake of calcium rises rapidly in the first 6 months, less rapidly between 6 and 9 months, then decreases to a lower level between two and three years, when the median calcium level is 0.75 gm and the median milk intake is 16 ounces. This is followed by an increase in milk and in total calcium. There is a sex difference in calcium intake between 6 and 15 months, with the boys reaching a higher level than the girls and maintaining that level for a longer period of time.

Phosphorus intake increases during the first year, then shows a pattern intermediate between the stationary intake of protein and the markedly decreased intake of calcium in the early pre-school years, increasing again between three and 4 years.

The sharp rise of iron intake during the first year, due primarily to the high iron content of commercially prepared infant cereals, is followed by a decrease as these foods are replaced in the diet. After three years, levels of iron intake increase, but from two and one-half years to 5 years more than 75% of the intakes remain below the Recommended Allowance of the National Research Council.

Manuscript received 26 February 1954.