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The body mass and body length of 84 boys and 91 girls were investigated from birth up to the age of three years. From these data growth charts were drawn up. The development of body mass and body length related to chronological age, on the one hand, and the development of body mass related to body length, on the other hand. were set out. The growth charts are recommended as standards for reference purposes.

The chest circumference of 175 children (84 boys, 91 girls) was investigated from birth to the age of three years. Boys were shown to have greater distance values than girls. The growth velocity was highest in the first trimenon. The distance values of our children are lower than those of children investigated in the same territory during the periods of 1958/60 and 1970/71. The chest circumference as related to body length was found to be lower than described in previous investigations. These results are possible to recommended as reference values.

The ratio of plasma concentrations of tryptophan to the sum of neutral amino acids (valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine) was found to be significantly lower in formula-fed infants as compared to breast-fed infants and to newborns at birth. This tryptophan to neutral amino acids ratio in the blood is thought to control the synthesis of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin deficiency in the developing brain based on a decreased plasma tryptophan to neutral amino acids ratio may contribute to developmental obesity and/or permanent changes of mental capacity and social adaptability as observed in human subjects who had been formula-fed as compared to those who had been breast-fed in neonatal life.

As a result of a longitudinal study (1979-1982) distance values increments and growth velocity of the body length of 84 male and 91 female children are presented for the first three years of life. As compared to earlier longitudinal for the first three years of life. As compared to earlier longitudinal studies performed by other authors and to the G.D.R.-study of 1970/71, the investigated children are taller, in spite of a smaller body length at birth.

As a result of a longitudinal study (performed 1979-1982) on the somatic development of 84 male and 91 female children from birth up to the third year of life, values of body mass expressed as distance values, increments, and growth velocity are presented. As compared to earlier investigations made in the G. D. R. and to studies from other countries differences of the dynamics of body mass development have been found: with the exception of the birth weight the body mass tends to be higher during the first six month of life in contrast to previous studies, whereas between the 9th to the 18th month of life lower values of body mass have been measured. Additional differences in the dynamics of body mass development between boys and girls are presented.

The head breadth and head length of 175 children (84 boys, 91 girls) were investigated from birth up to the age of three years. Boys were shown to have greater distance values. Growth increments and velocity did not differ between boys and girls. The velocity was highest in the first trimenon. The children of this study had a greater head length, therefore the value of their cephalic index was lower as described in previous investigations. The phenomenon of debrachycephalisation observed in our populations confirms previous observations.

As a further result of a longitudinal study (conducted from 1979-1982) the somatic development figures for the skinfold thickness of 84 male and 91 female children from birth up to three years are presented. The Lange caliper was used to perform the measurements according to the recommendations of the International Biological Programme (8 sites of measurement on the right side of the body). The results for the development of skinfold thickness are similar to those of the Dortmund Study (1974), but in part quite different compared with earlier longitudinal studies (1956): our own investigations show a greater skinfold thickness during the first three months of life and thereafter lower figures up to the age of 18 months. The results are recommended by the authors as reference figures for the G.D.R.