Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity in lactating females.

Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined in 60 non-lactating and 40 selected lactating females following paturition till the 16th week of lactation at fortnightly intervals. Serum calcium showed a progressive increase from 8.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl in first week rising to 10.04 +/- 0.4 mg/dl in the 16th week of lactation. Serum albumin and inorganic phosphate were relatively constant up to the sixteenth week postpartum. Serum alkaline phosphatase was highest immediately after paturition, it declines slightly and rises but not above reference range. Serum calcium in the lactating females were usually above hypocalcaemic level and it is thought that dietary calcium was adequate in the lactating females.