[The clinical relevance of phosphorus and calcium in infant nutrition].

This paper is an introduction to the clinical part of the symposium and deals with the question of whether and under which circumstances the calcium and phosphorus content in baby formula can provoke pathological conditions. In a healthy baby, high or low mineral intake is efficiently compensated for by Ca-P homeostasis. Both nutritional calcium deficiency and calcium excess are the exception with modern baby feeding practices. However, P-deficiency states resulting in phosphopenic rickets might occur in premature babies and in children with familial hypophosphatemic rickets. These two conditions should be treated and prevented by an alimentary P-supplement. On the other hand, formula with a rich P-content might be a cause of the late form of neonatal hypocalcemia. Therefore, a relatively low-phosphate formula preparation, similar to human milk, is recommended for the first 2 weeks of life of full-term newborns, as well for infants with hyperphosphatemic renal failure.