Perturbed zinc homeostasis in rural 3-5-y-old Malawian children is associated with abnormalities in intestinal permeability attributed to tropical enteropathy.

Tropical enteropathy and zinc deficiency are major public health problems worldwide. Tropical enteropathy is characterized by reduced mannitol absorption with normal or increased lactulose absorption when a dual sugar absorption test is administered, the results of which are reported as the lactulose:mannitol ratio (L:M). Zinc homeostasis is quantified with a dual stable isotope test.

Continuous feedings of fortified human milk lead to nutrient losses of fat, calcium and phosphorous.

Substantial losses of nutrients may occur during tube (gavage) feeding of fortified human milk. Our objective was to compare the losses of key macronutrients and minerals based on method of fortification and gavage feeding method. We used clinically available gavage feeding systems and measured pre- and post-feeding (end-point) nutrient content of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (Phos), protein, and fat.

Magnesium retention in 12 to 48 month-old children.

Objectives: In adults, adaptation to changes in magnesium intake is largely due to changes in fractional magnesium absorption and urinary magnesium excretion. We sought to examine whether these homeostatic mechanism also occurred in young children.

Methods: Children, 12-48 m old were studied (n=30).

Zinc homeostasis in 1-4 year olds consuming diets typical of US children.

Few data have evaluated Zn balance in young children after the first year of life. The objective of the present study was to study the relationships among Zn intake, absorption, endogenous faecal excretion, and retention in a group of healthy children. Thirty children, aged 15-48 months, were studied on a diet representative of their usual daily mineral intake.

Calcium balance in 1-4-y-old children.

Background: Few calcium balance data are available from young children on which to base dietary recommendations.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the relation between calcium intake and balance in healthy children aged 1-4 y consuming typical American diets.

Design: Subjects were assigned to a diet with nutrient intakes similar to those of their usual diet.

Iron absorption is more closely related to iron status than to daily iron intake in 12- to 48-mo-old children.

Few studies have evaluated iron absorption in small children after the first year of life. Our objectives were to examine the relations among iron intake, iron absorption, and iron status in a group of healthy children. We studied 28 children, ages 12 to 48 mo, after a 7-d home adaptation to a diet representative of their usual daily mineral intake.