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To verify whether there is a state of phosphate depletion in dehydrated infants with diarrhea and whether phosphate administration affects recovery from metabolic acidosis, two groups of infants were studied. All were males, from 1 to 7 months old, and in good nutritional state. The control group was treated with a standard regimen of I.V. fluids initially, followed by feedings of a diluted milk formula starting on the 2nd day of treatment. The study group, in addition to this standard regimen, received sodium phosphate (Na2HPO4/Na2HPO4, 4:1, pH 7.4), initially by the I.V. route and thereafter orally with the feedings, at the dose of 2mM/kg/day. During the first 6 days of treatment, daily electrolyte (Na, K, Ca, Mg. Cl and P) and nitrogen balances were recorded. Hydrogen ion excretion (NH4 + TA--HCO3) was determined daily. Clinical findings and course were similar in the two groups. No untoward effects were observed with phosphate administration. In the control group, P balance was negative during all the periods and losses were in excess of those expected from nitrogen losses, thus suggesting a state of depletion. In the P-treated group however, P retention was not demonstrated in the first 2 days, finding a not suggestive of a P depleted state. Linear regressions between both daily and cumulative balances of P-nitrogen-free and Ca indicated a close correlation, thus suggesting that these two ions are mobilized concommitantly.