American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 17, 211-217, Copyright © 1965 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Some Biochemical Findings in Burlington (Vt.) Junior High School Children

¹ From the Department of Home Economics, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont

The biochemical data for 401 boys and girls in grades 7, 8 and 9 in Burlington are presented. Certainly for this younger teenage group, the question of marginal vitamin deficiencies seems to be limited to a small percentage of the participants.

Boys rated better than girls with respect to hemoglobin, hematocrit, thiamine, by both the erythrocyte transketolase method and the thiamine:creatinine ratio, and riboflavin. Girls rated better for ascorbic acid. Both sexes were nearly alike with respect to plasma vitamin A and carotene levels. A larger percentage of girls had cholesterol levels above 170 mg. per 100 ml. plasma.

The erythrocyte transketolase method appears to be a more satisfactory method for determining thiamine status than the use of spot urine samples.

Only 4 per cent of the children had nothing to eat before the mid-morning interview and sample taking. Only 13 per cent had taken a vitamin or mineral supplement on the morning of the interview.