Physiological economy in nutrition, with special reference to the minimal proteid requirement of the healthy man: an experimental study — John Shaqi
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
Examination of the results shown in the foregoing balance makes it quite
clear that the body was essentially in nitrogenous equilibrium. Indeed,
there was a slight plus balance, showing that even with the small intake
of proteid food the body was storing up nitrogen at the rate of 0.16 gram
per day. The average daily intake of nitrogen for the six days’ period
was 6.40 grams, equal to 40.0 grams of proteid or albuminous food. The
average daily output of nitrogen through the urine and fæces was 6.24
grams. The average daily output of nitrogen through the urine for the six
days’ period was 5.44 grams, corresponding to the metabolism of 34 grams
of proteid material. When these figures are contrasted with the usually
accepted standards of proteid requirement for the healthy man, they are
certainly somewhat impressive, especially when it is remembered that
the body at that date had been in essentially this same condition for
at least six months, and probably for an entire year. The Voit standard
of 118 grams of proteid, with an equivalent of at least 18 grams of
nitrogen and calling for the metabolism of 105 grams of proteid, or 16.5
grams of nitrogen per day, makes clear how great a physiological economy
had been accomplished. In other words, the consumption of proteid food
was reduced to at least one-third the daily amount generally considered
as representing the average requirement of the healthy man, and this
with maintenance of body-weight at practically a constant point for the
preceding ten months, and, so far as the writer can observe, with no loss
of vigor, capacity for mental and physical work, or endurance. Indeed,
the writer is disposed to maintain that he has done more work and led
a more active life in every way during the period of this experiment,
and with greater comfort and less fatigue than usual. His health has
certainly been of the best during this period.
In this connection it may be well to call attention to the completeness
of the utilization of the daily food in this six days’ experiment, as
shown by the small amount of refuse discharged per rectum, indicating
as it does the high efficiency of the digestive processes and of the
processes of absorption. The refuse matter for the entire period of six
days amounted when dry to only 74 grams, and when it is remembered how
large a proportion of this refuse must of necessity be composed of the
cast-off secretions from the body, it will be seen how thorough must have
been the utilization of the food by the system. The loss of nitrogen
to the body per day through the fæces amounted to only 0.79 gram, and
this on a mixed diet containing considerable matter not especially
concentrated, and on some days with noticeable amounts of food, such as
salads, not particularly digestible.
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