CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS METABOLISM IN OSTEOMALACIA IX. METABOLIC BEHAVIOR OF INFANTS FED ON BREAST MILK FROM MOTHERS SHOWING VARIOUS STATES OF VITAMIN D NUTRITION

Abstract

Data on Ca, P and N metabolism were obtained on 4 women while they were supplying breast milk to 4 infants from whom similar data were secured at the same time, showing intimate relationship in the state of vit. D nutrition between the mother and the infant during the nursing period. The administration of vit. D to the mother in ordinary therapeutic doses is evidently capable of sufficiently enriching her milk by vit. D to prevent or cure rickets in the infant. When vit. D is withheld from the mother for a period of 3 mos. or so, her milk will be sufficiently impoverished to produce early evidence of vit. D deficiency in the infant.