Physiology and Pathology of Vitamin D

Antirachitic Value of Human Milk

“…Our knowledge regarding the assimilation of bone-forming elements in the diet of mammalian species has been largely built up on the results of experiments on animals; these have taught us how great an importance is to be attached not only to vitamin D but to the total daily intakes of calcium and of phosphorus in one form or another, as well as the ratio (Ca/P) between these intakes. An admirable summary of theexisting information regarding the significance of the level'of intake of these mineral elements has recently been provided by Shohl (1938), but, broadly speaking, it can be said that, at any rate one level of Ca or P intake-assimilation-in the absence of supplementary factors such as members of the vitamin D group, is most satisfactory within a certain and rather narrow range of values for the Ca/P ratio. Moreover, at any one Ca/P ratio the assimnilation tends to improve as the total intake of the two components rises.…”