UTILIZATION OF PROTEIN IN VEGETARIAN AND MIXED DIET BY HUMAN ADULTS
- VernacularTitle:葷食及素食蛋白质在人体中的利用
- Author:
Wenhsun FAN
;
Wenchuan HU
;
Enfu YANG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Acta Nutrimenta Sinica
1956;0(03):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Vegetarian and mixed diets, supplying about 3000 Cal. and 8,5 gms. of protein daily, were given alternately to 6 adult men of 22-34 years old. In the vegetarian diet, composed of cereals, legumes and vegetables, about 20% of the total protein were supplied by the legumes. In the mixed diet, the legumes and part of the cereals of the above were replaced by meats, eggs and milk, furnishing about 50% of the total protein. The experiment consisted of 5 consecutive periods of 10 days each in the first three periods and 5 days each in the last two.Urinary nitrogen excretion of the experimental subjects during the period on vegetarian diet was lower than that on mixed diet. When the diet was changed from vegetarian to the mixed ration, urinary nitrogen remained low in the first two days and increased from the third day. However, when the change of diet was reversed, there was an immediat'e decrease of nitrogen excretion. The nitrogen balance was in favour of the vegetarian diet.The essential amino acid contents of the vegetarian diet were lower than that of the mixed diet. Therefore, better utilization of the protein in the vegetarian diet cannot be satisfactorily explained by essential amino acid index. With adequate caloric intake, 85 gms. of protein supplied daily either by vegetarian or by mixed diet may maintain nitrogen balance and protein storage in adult man.
