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Abstract
To determine normal values for the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr) in infants.
To assess the impact of short-term supplementation of infant formula with calcium
and phosphorus on UCa/Cr in a group of infants.
We determined UCa/Cr in randomly collected urine samples from a group of children
and adults. Short-term supplementation of infant formula with calcium glycerophosphate
was carried out in 21 infants, and UCa/Cr was monitored in a before-and-after trial.
A pediatric clinic at an academic center (infants and adults), and a day-care center
(older children).
A total of 103 infants between 5 days and 7 months of age, 40 infants between 8 and
17 months of age, 41 children between 18 months and 6 years, and 31 adults.
The 95th percentiles for molar UCa/Cr for the different age groups were as follows:
less than 7 months, 2.42 (0.86 mg/mg); 7 to 18 months, 1.69 (0.60 mg/mg); 19 months
to 6 years, 1.18 (0.42 mg/mg); and adults, 0.61 (0.22 mg/mg). Regression analysis
indicated a statistically significant decline in average UCa/Cr with age (R2 = 0.115,
p < 0.0001 for log (UCa/Cr) vs log (age)). The geometric means for the two groups
of infants were significantly greater than those of the older children and the adults
(p < 0.05). Values for UCa/Cr in adults in our sample were comparable to those previously
reported. We detected no significant changes in mean UCa/Cr during week-long periods
of calcium supplementation of up to 1.8 gm of calcium and 1.39 gm of phosphorus per
liter of formula.
We conclude that normal values for UCa/Cr are much higher in infants than in older
children and adults; UCa/Cr is age-related and declines gradually in the first several
years of life, and short-term supplementation of infant formula with calcium glycerophosphate
has minimal effect on UCa/Cr.