Determination of protein requirements in healthy male volunteers on vegetarian diet
Bhatia, B.D.; Agarwal, D.K.; Agarwal, K.N.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 77: 658-667
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6618539 Document Number: 201242
The protein requirements of 6 young, healthy male volunteers (ages 23-24) maintaining normal daily activity were estimated on vegetarian diets containing 0.7, 0.6, 0.5, and 0.4 g vegetable protein/kg/day. Urinary urea, total nitrogen, and fecal nitrogen were significantly lower on the 2 low than on the 2 high vegetable protein diets. Multiple level constant variance analysis gave an estimated mean protein requirement of 0.522 g/kg/day, with a calculated allowance for 97.5% population of 0.646 g/kg/day. The individual response method gave corresponding values of 0.523 and 0.584 mg/kg/day, respectively. These estimates were much lower than recommended protein intake levels. (wz)