Phosphorus Levels (phosphorus + level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Phosphorus Levels

  • serum phosphorus level


  • Selected Abstracts


    Influence of different phosphorus levels and phytase supplementation in gestation diets on sow performance

    JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 7-8 2007
    K. Lyberg
    Summary A total of 104 sows of different parities were studied. They were fed four diets with different phosphorus (P) levels during gestation for two reproductive cycles, while the same diet was fed during lactation. The aim was to decrease the total P level in the diet during gestation and to evaluate the effect on sow performance. The gestation treatments were low P (LP,; 3.7 g P/kg feed), low P with phytase (LP+, Ronozyme® P; 765 FTU/kg feed), medium P (MP; 4.5 g P/kg feed) and high P (HP; 6.0 g P/kg feed). Daily feed allowances were 2.6 kg during gestation and 9.2 kg during lactation. Number of born piglets and piglet mortality were higher (p < 0.05) in the LP treatments than in the MP and HP treatments. No difference (p > 0.05) in the numbers of live-born piglets, piglet birthweights, sow weights or piglet weight gains was found between the treatments. Phosphorus level in sow milk was the highest (p < 0.05) in the MP treatment, while no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment were found on milk Ca levels, P and Ca levels in serum of sows and piglets, nor on the analysed mineral, fat and protein contents of piglets. The estimated average requirement of P for the entire gestation period was 4.4,4.5 g/day. In conclusion, a reduction of dietary total P content during gestation did not result in negative effects on sow or piglet performance. This suggests that it should be possible to lower the dietary P content for gestating sows, compared with earlier recommendations, and thereby reduce the environmental P pollution. [source]


    Resource settings have a major influence on the outcome of maintenance hemodialysis patients in South India

    HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010
    ABRAHAM Georgi
    Abstract Chronic kidney disease is reaching epidemic proportions and the number of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) is increasing worldwide and also in developing countries. To meet the challenge of providing RRT, a few charity organizations provide hemodialysis units for underprivileged patients, as the private hospitals are unaffordable for the majority. There is a paucity of information on the outcome of dialysis in these patients. Here, we describe the outcome of hemodialysis patients comparing the middle- and upper-class income group with the lower class income group. A retrospective analysis was carried out in 558 CKD patients initiated on maintenance hemodialysis in two different dialysis facilities. Group A (n=247) included those who belonged to the lowermost socioeconomic status and were undergoing dialysis in two nonprofit, charity (TANKER)-run dialysis units, and Group B (n=311) was undergoing dialysis in a nonprofit hospital setting where no subsidy was given. Those patients of a low socioeconomic status, especially those who are diabetics, have a higher death rate (Group A-38.1%, Group B-4.2%) and loss to follow-up (Group A-25.9%, Group B-0.3%) compared with those who are in the middle- and high-income group. Higher EPO use and hence higher hemoglobin levels (Group A-6.4±1.2, Group B-8.9±1.5 P<0.001) were observed in those who were in the middle and the higher income group. Lower serum phosphorus level was observed in the low-socioeconomic group (Group A-4.7±1.5, Group B-5.5±1.9, P<0.001). Patients belonging to the middle and higher socioeconomic group undergo more transplantations compared with the lower socioeconomic group (Group A-2.4%, Group B-65.6%). [source]


    Response of Nutrients, Plankton Communities and Macrophytes to Fish Manipulation in a Small Eutrophic Wetland Lake

    INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 5-6 2005
    István Tátrai
    Abstract A food web manipulation experiment was started in 1999 in a small shallow eutrophic (Major Lake as a part of the wetland area, the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System, KBWPS). The development of submerged macrophytes, the structure and biomass of phytoplankton and crustacean plankton responded rapidly to the removal of 60% of omnivorous cyprinid fish. An increase in transparency and a decrease in the concentrations of chlorophyll- a, phytoplankton and phosphorus occurred simultaneously with the increased presence of submerged macrophytes, which covered 45% of the lake area compared with <10% during the premanipulation period. The success of fish manipulation demonstrated the potential of this measure as a short-term management strategy. Our data also indicated that the clear water state was not stable in the long term. As long as phosphorus level is high, there is a risk that macrophytes will not successfully establish for longer period. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


    Autopsy case of aluminum encephalopathy

    NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
    Teruo Shirabe
    We report the case of a 59-year-old female aluminum encephalopathy patient who had chronic renal failure and took 3.0 g hydroxy-aluminum gel per day for the control of serum phosphorus level during a 15-year period. Nine months before her death she developed disorientation, memory disturbance, emotional incontinence, general convulsions and consciousness disturbance. Neuropathologically, the brain showed nerve cell atrophy and mild loss with stromal spongiosis, proliferation of astrocytes and microglia in the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Some nerve cells were stained immunohistochemically by phosphorylated neurofilament, but apparent neurofibrillary tangles were not observed. Aluminum was detected in the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex by X-ray microanalysis. Despite the long-term intake of aluminum, there were no neuropathological findings of Alzheimer's disease. The findings in our case suggested that aluminum alone might not develop Alzheimer's disease. [source]


    Effects of dietary phosphorus level on non-faecal phosphorus excretion from yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel) fed purified and practical diets

    AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009
    Pallab Kumer Sarker
    Abstract Non-faecal phosphorus (P) was determined for large yellowtail to estimate a minimum available P requirement (Experiment 1) and to justify inorganic P supplementation in a fish meal-based diet (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, purified diets with incremental P concentrations were fed to yellowtail (mean weight 917 g) at a feeding rate of 1.5% of body weight. The peaks of non-faecal P excretion appeared 5,6 h after feeding in fish fed more than 4.5 g available P kg,1 dry diet. Broken-line analysis indicated that the minimum available P requirement was 4.4 g kg,1 dry diet. In Experiment 2, a purified diet (PR) containing 6.5 g available P kg,1 and a fish meal-based diet with (F1) and without (F0) additional phosphorus were fed to yellowtail (mean weight 1.1 kg) at 1.5% (PR) and 2% (F0 and F1) feeding rates respectively. There was no significant difference in P excretion between fish fed the F0 (5.5 g soluble P kg,1 dry diet) and the PR diet. However, significantly higher (34.5%) amounts of non-faecal P excretions (7.4 g soluble P kg,1 dry diet) were found in fish fed F1 compared with the F0 diet. This suggested that there was an excess of dietary P in the F1 diet and that supplementation is not needed in fish meal-based diets for large yellowtail. [source]


    Oligotrophication outweighs effects of global warming in a large, deep, stratified lake ecosystem

    GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
    H. B. STICH
    Abstract Between 1951 and 1979, total phosphorous concentrations in Lake Constance increased from 7 to 87 ,g L,1. Following wastewater treatment, phosphorus levels were brought under control, returning to 7.6 ,g L,1 by spring 2007. The biological and chemical data from 1980 to 2004 were first modelled by seasonal time series analyses and then used to create a general model. Excluding collinear variables allowed the data set to be condensed to six variables that could be fitted into a general linear model that explained ,75% of the observed annual variation in chlorophyll a. A clear seasonal influence was apparent, with chlorophyll a tracking trends in temperature and the progress of spring. A nonseasonal influence was also observed in the interaction of two biological components, the proportion of phytoplankton biomass available to Daphnia (i.e. the percentage of ingestible size <30 ,m) and the grazing intensity. In combination, these biotic variables had a negative impact on chlorophyll a levels. In contrast, the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) correlated positively with chlorophyll a. The effect of SRP showed a significant seasonal component, as it was more abundant in spring than at other times of year. In general, the model predicts a negative exponential response of chlorophyll a to further depletion of SRP in Lake Constance, while the temperature trends predicted by current global warming scenarios will result in a moderate increase in productivity. Data from 2005 to 2007 were used to verify the model. The modelled chlorophyll a values were nonbiased and showed a close match to the measured values (r2: 75%). Thus the applicability, reliability, and informative value of the model for pelagic Lake Constance was confirmed. The approach might easily be applied to other waters. [source]


    Dialysis adequacy and nutritional status of hemodialysis patients

    HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008
    Fernanda TEIXEIRA NUNES
    Abstract To characterize the nutritional status of renal failure patients and its relationship with hemodialysis adequacy measured by Kt/V, a study was carried out with a population of 44 adult patients with renal failure and mean age 51±15 years. Anthropometric data, such as dry weight, height, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, and body mass index were assessed, and biochemical tests were conducted for urea, potassium, creatinine, serum albumin, and phosphorus levels, in addition to hemogram and quarterly urea reduction rate average (Kt/V). In order to evaluate calorie intake, a dietary questionnaire on habitual daily food ingestion was administered, taking into consideration the hemodialysis date. The patients were divided into 2 separate groups for the statistical analysis, with 50% of the patients in each group: A (Kt/V<1.2) and B (Kt/V>1.2). The data were tabulated as mean and standard deviation, with differences tested by Student's t test. The correlations between variables were established by the coefficient p of Pearson. Most of the patients (43%) were considered eutrophic, based on the BMI, and presented inadequate calorie intake, corresponding to 88.5±24% (30.8 kcal/kg actual weight) of the total energy required and adequate protein intake, reaching 109.9±40% of the recommended daily allowance (1.24 g/kg of actual weight). There was a correlation of Kt/V with anthropometric parameters such as body mass index, arm circumference, and mid-arm muscle circumference. The biochemical parameters related to dialysis adequacy were albumin, ferritin, and urea (predialysis). Well-dialyzed patients presented better levels of serum albumin. There was an influence of gender and age on correlations of the analyzed variables. Female and younger patients presented better dialysis adequacy. The dialysis adequacy was related to the nutritional status and influenced by the protein intake and body composition. Gender and age had an important influence in the dialysis adequacy, as men presented lower dialysis adequacy and younger adults presented better dialysis adequacy. Further research is necessary to understand better how to facilitate effective and efficient techniques for the nutritional status assessment of hemodialysis patients. [source]


    Short Daily Dialysis (SDHD) Efficacy : Pilot Multicentric Study with Nine Patients from Madrid

    HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2003
    G. Barril
    Interest in quotidian (daily) hemodialysis (HD) seems to be growing. Clinical data consistently showed improved quality of life, better control of blood pressure, less need for medications including erythropoietin (EPO) and better nutrition. We evaluate the SDHD efficacy in 9 patients in conventional HD (3 weekly sesions/4 hours), mean age 57,78 years range (33,75), 6 males and 3 females who needed increased dialysis efficiency by different medical indications: 5 cases with hypertensive miocardiopathy and severe LVH, 2 of them with EFLV 26% and 27%. 2 cases with ischemic cardiopathy symptoms, one of them with anger and restless dysnea with a non resvascularizable coronary lesion, and other with cardiac insufficiency episodes requiring hospitalization once a month. 1 patient with big body surface area and elevated phosphorus levels although without control, with conventional three times/week HD. 1 patient indication was made by 12 years on HD with multiple vascular accesses failed needing a Tessio cathéter being into infradialysis regimen for his malnutrition status. The schedule in all of them was 6 days per week sessions between 2.15 hrs till 3 hours depending of body surface area to obtain a weekly kt/v nearest to 4. HD session were realized in the Hospital (4 pts) or in satellite unit (5 pts) due to the characteristics of the patients. The time remaining in this schedule was between 5 months to 2 years and 9 months. All the patients showed clinical improvement, subjective and objective, since the first weeks of starting SDHD. Sleep symptoms were the first to improve. All patients showing good coping with this HD alternative. Blood pressure levels were controlled without need for antihypertensive drugs, although the dry weight increased significantly in all cases. Albumin serum levels increased as nutrition parameter, controlling also the osteodystrophy and phosphorus. In a patient the EFLV was normalized from 6 months (26%,50%) improving in other. Two patients could be included in Tx waiting list. Again, anemia improved and decreasing EPO was required. No vascular access (autologous AVF) malfunction was detected in relation to daily procedure. Conclusion: Our pilot experience shows a clinical and biochemical improvement in the patients and quality of life as well. Prospective studies to demonstrate the financial benefits of these modalities are needed. [source]


    Influence of different phosphorus levels and phytase supplementation in gestation diets on sow performance

    JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 7-8 2007
    K. Lyberg
    Summary A total of 104 sows of different parities were studied. They were fed four diets with different phosphorus (P) levels during gestation for two reproductive cycles, while the same diet was fed during lactation. The aim was to decrease the total P level in the diet during gestation and to evaluate the effect on sow performance. The gestation treatments were low P (LP,; 3.7 g P/kg feed), low P with phytase (LP+, Ronozyme® P; 765 FTU/kg feed), medium P (MP; 4.5 g P/kg feed) and high P (HP; 6.0 g P/kg feed). Daily feed allowances were 2.6 kg during gestation and 9.2 kg during lactation. Number of born piglets and piglet mortality were higher (p < 0.05) in the LP treatments than in the MP and HP treatments. No difference (p > 0.05) in the numbers of live-born piglets, piglet birthweights, sow weights or piglet weight gains was found between the treatments. Phosphorus level in sow milk was the highest (p < 0.05) in the MP treatment, while no effects (p > 0.05) of treatment were found on milk Ca levels, P and Ca levels in serum of sows and piglets, nor on the analysed mineral, fat and protein contents of piglets. The estimated average requirement of P for the entire gestation period was 4.4,4.5 g/day. In conclusion, a reduction of dietary total P content during gestation did not result in negative effects on sow or piglet performance. This suggests that it should be possible to lower the dietary P content for gestating sows, compared with earlier recommendations, and thereby reduce the environmental P pollution. [source]


    Hypercalcemia and Overexpression of CYP27B1 in a Patient With Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Clinical Vignette and Literature Review,,

    JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009
    Vivian Y Pao
    Abstract Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a disease of thickened, hard, hyperpigmented skin lesions with or without systemic fibrosis occurring in patients with renal insufficiency and associated with the administration of gadolinium-containing contrast. The pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, and there is no definitive treatment. We describe a 71-yr-old patient with stable chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and NSF who presented with hypercalcemia in 2006. Before onset of renal insufficiency in 2002, serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels were normal. In 2004, the patient began hemodialysis, and he was diagnosed with NSF in 2005, shortly after undergoing an MRI with gadolinium contrast administration. Over the next 6 mo, albumin-corrected serum total calcium levels rose from 9.9 to 13.1 mg/dl (normal range, 8.5,10.5 mg/dl) with normal serum phosphorus levels. On admission in September 2006, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels were elevated at 130.7 pg/ml (normal range, 25.1,66.1 pg/ml). Biopsy of an NSF lesion showed increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D3,1-, hydroxylase (CYP27B1) immunostaining compared with the biopsy from a normal control. This is the first reported association of NSF with hypercalcemia caused by elevated 1,25(OH)2D levels. This metabolic disturbance should be sought in future cases to determine a connection between NSF, 1,25(OH)2D metabolism, and CYP27B1 activation in the skin, which may shed light on the pathogenesis of this unusual local and systemic fibrosing disorder. [source]


    Phosphorus status on Canadian organic farms

    JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 15 2007
    Ralph C Martin
    Abstract In eastern North America, many conventional livestock farms, especially dairy farms with high inputs of feed and fertiliser have excess soil phosphorus levels and an annual phosphorus surplus. However, a Canadian dairy farm in transition to organic, without fertiliser inputs reduced its farm P surplus to a marginal level. On long-term organic dairy farms in Ontario, most soils tested low to very low in available P as measured by a standard soil test. Canadian Prairie organic grain farms also consistently demonstrate deficiencies in available soil P. Organic producers have few viable alternatives for P management. Phosphate rock can be acceptable to organic standards (provided they are low in heavy metals, and not processed synthetically), but the P in these becomes available slowly, especially in high pH soils common on most organic farms in Canada. An alternative is to increase soil P availability. Enhanced microbial activity in organically managed soils may make P more available. Livestock manures are rich sources of available phosphorus, but a majority of organic farmers in Canada do not keep livestock. Off-farm manure sources are subject to organic regulations and hauling costs, both of which may be prohibitive. Furthermore, manure from conventional farms in Canada may be contaminated by genetically modified material from corn and soybean feed. Additional research is required to improve short-term availability of soil P and long-term replacement. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


    Localization, Etiology and Impact of Calcium Phosphate Deposits in Renal Allografts

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 11 2009
    P. Evenepoel
    Hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and renal phosphate wasting are common after kidney transplantation. Animal data suggest that these alterations in mineral metabolism may contribute to calcium phosphate (CaPhos) deposition in the kidney and renal dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that CaPhos deposition is highly prevalent in the early posttransplant period and is related to a disturbed mineral metabolism. For this purpose, biomarkers of mineral metabolism and renal calcium and phosphorus handling were prospectively assessed in 201 renal transplant recipients. CaPhos deposits were observed in 4.6, 30.4 and 24.7% of protocol biopsies obtained at the time of engraftment, and 3 and 12 months thereafter, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, high calcium and low serum phosphorus levels were independently associated with renal CaPhos deposition at month 3. The extent of CaPhos deposition correlated significantly with the severity of mineral metabolism disturbances. Renal function after a mean follow-up of 33 months was similar in patients with and without CaPhos deposition at month 3. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that CaPhos deposition is highly prevalent in the early posttransplant period and suggest that a disordered mineral metabolism is implicated in its pathogenesis. The clinical relevance of CaPhos deposition remains to be established. [source]


    Effect of dietary phosphorus sources and varying levels of supplemental phosphorus on survival, growth and body composition of postlarval shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

    AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 5 2008
    J. NIU
    Abstract Two experiments were conducted for 30 days each to investigate the effective phosphorus source and supplemental phosphorus levels for postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. The first experiment was performed in postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 2 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing three supplemented inorganic phosphorus sources [D1: no supplemental phosphorus, D2: NaH2PO4·2H2O, D3: KH2PO4·2H2O, D4: Ca(H2PO4)2·2H2O]. The quantities of the three supplemental NaH2PO4·2H2O, KH2PO4·2H2O and Ca(H2PO4)2·2H2O were 11.6, 12.8 and 10 g kg,1 of the diet, respectively in order to make the three diets have the same total phosphorus. Growth performance (final mean body weight, FBW; weight gain, WG; specific growth ratio, SGR) of shrimp in D3 treatment was the highest and had significant difference with the D1 treatment. The survival of shrimp in D3 treatment was the highest and had significant difference with the other treatments. The mineral concentration and body composition of shrimp were not significantly different among treatments. We could conclude that KH2PO4·2H2O was the optimal phosphorus source for postlarval L. vannamei from the growth performance and survival. The second experiment was performed in postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 0.88 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing four supplemental KH2PO4·2H2O levels (d1, d2, d3 and d4 with 0, 5, 10 and 20 g kg,1, respectively). Shrimp in d2 treatment showed the highest growth performance and survival and also showed significant difference with other diet treatments. The whole body content of zinc (Zn) increased with the increase of dietary KH2PO4·2H2O and significant differences were observed when dietary KH2PO4·2H2O reached 5 g kg,1, excess KH2PO4·2H2O supplementation (10 and 20 g kg,1) had a negative effect on Zn content, the Zn content significantly decreased when KH2PO4·2H2O was 20 g kg,1. We can conclude that the amount of total phosphorus in the diet should be maintained between 20.9 and 22.0 g kg,1, the amount of supplemental KH2PO4·2H2O in the diet is less than 10 g kg,1. [source]


    Biotransformation of tuna waste by co-fermentation into an aquafeed ingredient

    AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2009
    Hena Vijayan
    Abstract Dried skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) waste (red meat, gills, viscera, fins, etc.) were mixed with 25% wheat flour and inoculated with a starter culture of Lactobacillus plantarum National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms (NCIM) 2912 (108,109 cells mL,1) and Bacillus licheniformis MTCC 6824 (107,108 cells mL,1). Changes in the nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fibre and nitrogen-free extract and aminoacids) were monitored during a fermentation period of 14 days. The proximate analysis showed significant changes in the composition of L. plantarum -fermented tuna (LPFT) and B. licheniformis -fermented tuna (BLFT) from the unfermented raw materials. Fermentation of tuna waste has resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase in the protein content of tuna waste between days 6 and 12. All the amino acid contents in BLFT increased during fermentation, whereas, in LPFT the levels of serine, histidine, tyrosine, methionine, cystine and phenylalanine contents were decreased. A marginal increase in calcium and phosphorus levels was recorded in the fermented products. The results of the study suggest that LPFT or BLFT can be used as a novel aquafeed ingredient for different fish species. [source]


    Phosphorus requirements of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles

    AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2001
    A M Pimentel-Rodrigues
    Abstract A trial was conducted to evaluate the phosphorus requirements of gilthead sea bream juveniles. Seven semipurified diets were formulated to contain 54% crude protein and 15% lipids and phosphorus (di-calcium phosphate) levels ranging from 0.37% to 1.5% (DM basis). Each diet was fed to duplicate groups of 25 fish with an initial average weight of 5 g over 42 days. The fish were fed by hand to visual apparent satiety twice daily, six days a week. At the end of the trial growth rate was not significantly different in groups fed diets containing 0.75% phosphorus or higher, while growth rate of fish fed the 0.37% phosphorus diet was significantly lower than all the other diets. Feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and N retention were significantly lower in fish fed the 0.37% phosphorus diet than in those fed diets with 0.75% and higher phosphorus levels. Phosphorus content of the fish averaged 2% (on a dry weight basis) and was not significantly affected by dietary phosphorus content. Phosphorus retention averaged 6.6 g kg,1 weight gain and was not statistically different among groups. Phosphorus retention (% phosphorus intake) decreased with the increase of dietary phosphorus content, being even higher than 100% in groups fed diets with 0.37% and 0.57% phosphorus, indicating phosphorus absorption from the water. The results of this study indicate that phosphorus requirements of gilthead sea bream juveniles were satisfied with a diet including 0.75% phosphorus. [source]


    Role of plasma and urinary calcium and phosphorus measurements in early detection of phosphorus deficiency in very low birthweight infants

    ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2003
    M Catache
    Aim: To analyse the role of serum and urinary calcium and phosphorus levels in early detection of mineral deficiency in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants born appropriate (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA). Methods: 64 VLBW infants were included in a cohort study and divided into two groups: AGA (n= 30) and SGA infants (n= 34). Then, they were divided according to the presence of radiological signs of metabolic bone disease (MBD): with MBD (n= 21) and without MBD (n= 34). Blood samples and 6 h urine collections were obtained for calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase activity and creatinine determinations between 3 and 5 wk of life. Results: There were no biochemical differences between AGA and SGA. Higher values of urinary calcium (MBD = 31.9 ± 20.2, without MBD = 19.8 ± 15.4; p= 0.017), calciuria (MBD = 2.3 ± 0.3, without MBD =1.4 ± 0.8; p= 0.037) and alkaline phosphatase activity (MBD = 369 ± 114, without MBD = 310 ± 93; p= 0.04) were found in infants who developed MBD. Both groups showed high tubular phosphorus reabsorption indicating mineral deficiency. Conclusion: Serum calcium and phosphorus levels are not good markers in early detection of mineral deficiency. However, the monitoring of calcium urinary levels may be helpful in early detection of mineral deficiency. [source]