Author
 |
Abrams, Steven |
|
Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Adequate mineral intake is crucial to a healthy diet for children. It supports growth and development, protects against childhood conditions like anemia, and helps to prevent future adult diseases such as osteoporosis. Difficulties in performing nutrition studies in infants and children have long hampered accurate assessment of their mineral needs. Many of the techniques used to identify mineral requirements in adults, such as bone histomorphometry and radioisotope testing, are difficult to use in children. In recent years, advanced mineral stable isotope techniques have been developed to fill this gap. Applications in children include studies of calcium absorption and kinetics during puberty, and evaluation of the calcium-iron interaction in infants and toddlers. The study of genetics in determining calcium use and bone development may become an important research area. The goals and methods of mineral stable isotope research in infants and children will be examined in this report. In the past, the cos and difficulties in obtaining isotopes have limited such research. Although this situation has now considerably improved, there are few nutrition research laboratories currently prepared to perform analysis. Technical Abstract: Adequate mineral intake is a crucial part of a healthy diet for children, supporting appropriate growth and development, and providing protection against childhood conditions like anemia as well as helping to prevent future adult diseases such as osteoporosis. Challenges in performing and interpreting studies in infants and children have hampered the accurate assessment of their mineral requirements. Many of the most powerful techniques used to identify mineral requirements in adults, such as bone histomorphometry and radioisotope testing, are difficult, if not impossible, to use in children. In recent years, advanced mineral stable isotope techniques have been developed and utilized to fill this gap. Pediatric applications include studies of calcium absorption and kinetics during puberty, and evaluation of the calcium-iron interaction in infants and toddlers. The effects of genetics in determining calcium absorption and dbone turnover may become an important research area. The goals and methodologies of ongoing mineral stable isotope research in infants and children will be examined in this report. In the past, the cost and difficulties in obtaining isotopes have limited such research. Currently, this situation is considerably improved, although relatively few nutrition research laboratories are prepared to perform sample analysis. |
