Physiological economy in nutrition, with special reference to the minimal proteid requirement of the healthy man: an experimental studyChittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Science
Physiological economy in nutrition, with special reference to the minimal proteid requirement of the healthy man: an experimental study
Chittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Metabolism; Nutrition
Other investigators, however, have found no great difficulty in
establishing nitrogenous equilibrium in man with much lower quantities
of proteid food. Thus, Klemperer[18] found in the case of two young men
of 64 and 65.5 kilos body-weight respectively, in an experiment lasting
eight days, that nitrogenous equilibrium was established on 4.38 and
3.58 grams of nitrogen per day, but with a daily diet containing in
addition to the small amount of proteid 264 grams of fat, 470.4 grams of
carbohydrate, and 172 grams of alcohol, with a total fuel value of 5020
large calories.
Peschel,[19] too, has reported experimental results showing that he was
able to establish nitrogenous equilibrium for a brief period with 7
grams of nitrogen daily, 5.31 grams appearing in the urine and 1.58 grams
in the fæces.
Caspari and Glaessner,[20] in a five-days’ experiment with two
vegetarians, found that the wife consumed daily, on an average, 5.33
grams of nitrogen, with fats and carbohydrates to equal 2715 calories,
while the man took in 7.82 grams of nitrogen and 4559 calories. Both
persons laid on nitrogen in spite of the low intake of proteid food.
Siven’s[21] experiments, however, are perhaps worthy of more careful
consideration. Of 60 kilos body-weight and 30½ years of age, his
experiments conducted on himself extended through thirty-two days with
establishment of nitrogenous equilibrium on 6.26 grams of nitrogen.
Moreover, in another experiment he was in nitrogen equilibrium for a day
or two at least on 4.5 grams of nitrogen. In Siven’s experiment, the most
noticeable feature is the added fact that the total intake of food per
day was comparatively low, with a fuel value of only 2444 large calories.
In this connection we may call attention to the recent experiments of
Landergren,[22] who found with four individuals fed on a daily diet
containing only 2.1 to 2.4 grams of nitrogen, but with a large amount
of carbohydrate, some fat and alcohol, that on the fourth day of this
“specific nitrogen hunger” only 3 to 4 grams of nitrogen were metabolized
and appeared in the urine. In other words, a healthy adult man having a
sufficient intake of non-nitrogenous food seemingly need not metabolize
more proteid than suffices to yield 3 to 4 grams of nitrogen per day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account