URINARY-EXCRETION OF MINERALS, OXALATE, AND URIC-ACID IN NORTH INDIANCHILDREN

Urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, phosphate, uric acid, oxalate , and creatinine was measured in 208 children (aged 8-15 years, 124 bo ys, 84 girls), living in a residential school near New Delhi. Levels w ere reduced compared with those reported from developed countries. The 95th percentile value of 24-h creatinine excretion was 33.4 mg/kg, ca lcium 2.2 mg/kg, magnesium 2.9 mg/kg, phosphate 9.3 mg/kg, uric acid 4 .4 mg/kg, and oxalate 1.5 mg/kg. The 95th percentile value of the urin e calcium/creatinine ratio was 0.15 and oxalate/creatinine 0.06. The d ietary intake of proteins, calcium, and other nutrients in these child ren was less than recommended and explained the reduced urinary excret ion observed. Physicians need to be aware of the regional patterns of normal urinary excretion of these constituents.