Study of ascorbic acid in rachitic infants

ABSTRACT

Serum ascorbic acid and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline were investigated in 25 Egyptian rachitic infants and 15 healthy control infants. Significant decline [P < 0.001] was observed in serum ascorbic acid of rachitic infants as compared to controls. It appears that ascorbic acid may be one of the causes of nutritional rickets in Egypt, and ascorbic acid deficiency augments the manifestations of vitamin D depletion. Supplementation of infants by ascorbic acid drugs at least during the first two months of life has to be seriously considered. A significant increase in hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio was detected in rachitic infants, compared to control. The high urinary excretion of hydroxyproline in infants with rickets can be due to increased bone resorption that involves dissolution of both minerals and organic matrix which is rich in hydroxyproline containing collagen