[Effect of amino acid deficiency on bone tissue growth and formation]

Intake of the essential amino acids, threonine, lysine and methionine by Ukrainian children of different height was studied. The processes of osteogenesis and phosphorus-calcium metabolism in rats with the above amino acids deficiency in the diet were also subjected to study. A direct correlation was established between intake of the amino acids under study and the height of schoolchildren. The deficiency of the amino acids in the diet of experimental animals contributed to the retardation of the growth, destructive changes, an increase in the content of hydroxyproline, a reduction of phosphomonoesterase-I activity in bones, and alterations in phosphorus-calcium metabolism.