Mona:  Now I'm not an RD, but I do teach college nutrition and I have to
say that all my years of teaching and researching has shown the Ca:P ratio
to be 2:1 not 1:1.  Please say this is a typo, as I've checked 6 of the
texts that I have at home tonight and each one states that the body strives
to maintain the serum calcium levels in a two to one ratio with phosphorus,
with 99% of all Calcium being stored in the bones.  When the serum Ca ratio
falls or when serum Phorsphorus is increased the body withdraws Ca from the
bones.  In regard to Ca absorption, on average we absorb 10-30% of dietary
calcium, but under conditions such as pregnancy and lactation, bodies
increase the absorption rate (with the same foods) to upwards of 60%.
Phosphorus, on the other hand, is readily absorbed at a rate of 70%.  So,
everyone check those sodas for phosphoric acid.

: )Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC  email: [log in to unmask]   : )
: )HSR & Health Educational Consultant        voice/fax: 541 753 7340    : )
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