Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 May 2009
1. Of five experimental subjects—growing East African native boys—four proved to have definitely negative calcium balances on the diet in use at the Nairobi Prison, while the fifth was merely in calcium equilibrium.
2. The diet in question was found to be so low in calcium (0·32 grm. Ca per day) that the occurrence of negative balances is not altogether surprising.
3. These negative calcium balances became positive on the addition of calcium as milk or in a mineral mixture with or without cod-liver oil.
4. Cod-liver oil alone was not effective in bringing about any appreciable reduction of a negative balance.
5. Our findings showed that 0·43 grm. Ca daily was the maintenance requirement for the subjects under experiment. This figure is practically the same as that found by Sherman in a summary of work on white races.
6. On giving additional calcium in a mineral mixture it was found that after the maintenance requirement had been satisfied, as much as 50 per cent. of any excess might be retained. The calcium of milk, on the other hand, was found to be utilised more efficiently; the corresponding retention figure being over 70 per cent.
7. The influence of the various supplements on growth is briefly discussed.