A Study of Phosphorus Absorption in Normal and Rachitic Children

Murdoch, Georgina (1927) A Study of Phosphorus Absorption in Normal and Rachitic Children. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

In a study of the inorganic phosphorus of the serum, and the manner of its response to variations in the calcium-phosphorus intake, in 8 normal and 3 rachitic children, the following observations were made. A diet poor in calcium, rich in phosphorus, gave rise to an increase, though not beyond normal limits, in the phosphorus content of the serum. Subsequent addition of calcium in excess to the diet induced a fall in the serum phosphorus, an effect which, while definite in every case, was more marked in the rachitic than in the normal children. It was thus shown that in the cases in question the serum phosphorus was undoubtedly influenced by the amount of the calcium intake, excess of the latter being equivalent in effect to a diminished supply of phosphorus. The fact that the effect of calcium excess was greater in the rachitic children may be explained in the light of the theory that in rickets, owing to defective absorption of calcium, the normal deterrent action of this element on phosphorus absorption is intensified. The phosphorus absorptive power, as indicated by the rise in the inorganic phosphorus of the serum following the the ingestion of 4 grm. NaH2PO4, was separately investigated in 11 children of whom 5 were normal, 4 suffered from active rickets and 2 from healing rickets. It was found that in the cases of active rickets the average absorption was the same as in the healthy children, while in those of healing rickets it was abnormally high. From a few examples, however apparently convincing, it is impossible to gather any general conclusion, but interest attaches to the foregoing results in that they are in keeping with the theory of defective calcium absorption in rickets, while with the view that phosphorus metabolism is primarily in fault, they are directly at variance. The work described in the preceding pages was carried out in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, and was undertaken at the suggestion of Professor Leonard Findlay, for whose encouragement and valuable help the writer is deeply grateful.

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Physiology, Medicine, Biochemistry
• Date of Award: 1927
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1927-80305
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 30 Jan 2024 14:42
• Last Modified: 30 Jan 2024 14:42
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/80305