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
in diet which fully satisfies all the cravings of appetite as completely
as it suffices to maintain the body in equilibrium and in a general
condition of health and vigor.
Taking the data recorded above, we may now calculate the nitrogen
requirement of the body per kilo of body-weight. With the body-weight
placed at 57 kilos and with an average daily elimination of nitrogen
for nearly nine months of 5.699 grams, or practically 5.7 grams, it is
evident that the nitrogen metabolized per kilo of body-weight in the
present instance was exactly 0.1 gram. If we take the lower figure of
5.40 grams of nitrogen, the average daily excretion from April 13 to
June 27, we find the nitrogen requirement to be 0.0947 gram per kilo
of body-weight. Translating these figures into terms of proteid or
albuminous matter, they mean the utilization or metabolism of 0.625 gram
of proteid matter daily per kilo of body-weight, under the conditions of
life, activity, and general food consumption prevailing throughout this
period of nearly nine months with this particular individual.
Whether we are justified in saying that this figure represents the
_minimal_ proteid requirement of this particular individual is
perhaps questionable, since the proteid or nitrogen requirement will
of necessity vary somewhat with the amount of non-nitrogenous food
consumed. Doubtless, the nitrogen metabolism could be reduced still
lower by increasing the intake of non-nitrogenous food, but under the
above conditions of life, following a plan of living both congenial and
satisfactory, one that fully sufficed to keep the body in equilibrium
and with the practice of a general physiological economy, we may say
that the metabolism of 0.1 gram of nitrogen per kilo of body-weight
was quite sufficient to meet all the requirements of the body. Health,
strength, mental and physical vigor have been maintained unimpaired,
and there is a growing conviction that in many ways there is a distinct
improvement in both the physical and mental condition. Greater freedom
from fatigue, greater aptitude for work, greater freedom from minor
ailments, have gradually become associated in the writer’s mind with
this lowered proteid metabolism and general condition of physiological
economy. The writer, however, is fully alive to the necessity of caution
in the acceptance of one’s feelings as a measure of physical or mental
condition, but he has been keenly watchful for any and every sign or
symptom during the course of these experiments, and is now strongly of
the opinion that there is much good to be gained in the adoption of
dietetic habits that accord more closely with the true physiological
needs of the body. If a man of 57 kilos body-weight can maintain a
condition of equilibrium, with continuance of health, strength, and vigor
(to say nothing of possible improvement), with a daily consumption of say
40 grams of proteid food and sufficient non-nitrogenous food to yield
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