The Utilization of the Calcium in Various Greens

Abstract

In these experiments measurements were made of the utilization of the calcium of various dried greens in diets in which one-half of the calcium was supplied by the green and the other half by milk. These diets were fed to young rats from their twenty-eighth to sixtieth day of age, at which time they were killed and analyzed for calcium. The calcium utilization factor, the ratio of the calcium retained to that ingested, was used as a measure of the utilization of the calcium in the various diets during this period of rapid growth and calcification. The results showed that the calcium of turnip greens was about as available as that of milk, while that of tendergreen, collards and kale was slightly less available. Not only was the calcium of New Zealand spinach utilized poorly, if at all, but also the utilization of the calcium of the milk in the diet was diminished by the presence of the New Zealand spinach.