Concentrations of Calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase in the sera of lactating women in North India
Marya, R.K.; Rathee, S.; Arora, S.R.
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 25(1): 59-64
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-6807 PMID: 6894836 DOI: 10.1159/000176479Document Number: 386233
Serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured in 75 lactating Indian women, in 25 controls and in 25 lactating mothers who had received calcium and vitamin D supplements for 1 month. Significant hypocalcemia and elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase were observed in lactating women; raised enzyme levels were significantly lower, however, in subjects who drank more than 1/2 liter of milk daily and also in women in later stages of lactation. Supplemental calcium and vitamin D produced a significant rise in serum calcium concentration and decline in enzyme level in 20 and 13 women, respectively. All supplemented mothers reported relief of such symptoms as backache, weakness, leg pains, and cramps. These findings suggest that a large number of unsupplemented lactating Indian mothers may suffer from osteomalacia.