CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS METABOLISM IN OSTEOMALACIA. V. THE EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS AND RATIOS OF CALCIUM TO PHOSPHORUS INTAKE ON THEIR SERUM LEVELS, PATHS OF EXCRETION AND BALANCES, IN THE PRESENCE OF CONTINUOUS VITAMIN D THERAPY

Abstract

Osteomalacia is a bone disease more commonly seen and with greater clinical 'implications in North China than elsewhere (1, 2, 3). The prin-cipal cause of the skeletal demineralization re-sides in vitamin D deficiency, a combination of its lack in the diet and exclusion of sunlight. By reason of such deficiency, calcium given by mouth fails to be absorbed. Poor intestinal absorption rather than excessive elimination is incriminated because it has been demonstrated by the studies of Hannon et al. (4) that the endogenous calcium metabolism in patients with osteomalacia on low intake is within normal limits and that calcium administered parenterally is largely retained. Un-der such circumstances while the endogenous de-