The nutrition of manChittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Science
The nutrition of man
Chittenden, R. H. (Russell Henry)
Nutrition
As we look at these results, the nitrogen gain for the first and
second days of the third experiment and the first day of the second
experiment may well attract our attention, since they show an
astonishing laying by of proteid, or gain of flesh, under the influence
of a comparatively small increase in the fuel value of the food. A
gain of 5.98 grams of nitrogen means 37.3 grams of proteid, or more
than an ounce; by no means an inconsiderable addition for one day to
the store of tissue proteid. In the third experiment, where plasmon
(dried, milk proteid) was added to the diet, there is to be noted a
gradual falling off in the proteid-sparing power, which may perhaps
be interpreted as implying that the body was practically saturated
with proteid, and that owing to this fact the body was unable to
continue its laying hold of nitrogen. In the entire period of 21
days, however, the body had succeeded in accumulating a store of 62.8
grams of nitrogen, or 392 grams of proteid, and this without adding
very largely to the intake of non-nitrogenous matter. This experiment
affords a striking illustration of the ability of the body to “fatten
on nitrogen,” but it is very doubtful if such results can generally
be obtained. Lüthje,[32] however, has reported a large retention of
nitrogen on a diet containing 50 grams of nitrogen daily, with a fuel
value of 4000 calories. It is more than probable that there existed
in these particular cases some personal peculiarity or idiosyncrasy
which favored the proteid-sparing power. The personal coefficient of
nutrition is not to be ignored; it shows itself in many ways, and the
above results are to be counted among those that are exceptional and
not the rule. In the words of Magnus-Levy, “a given diet with Cassius
may lead to different results than with Anthony.”
[32] Zeitschrift für klinische Medizin, Band 44, p. 22.
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