Long-term evaluation of the adequacy of habitual diets to provide protein needs of adult Nigerian men

Abstract

1. A continuous 40 d metabolic nitrogen balance study was conducted on twelve young men aged 25 (sd 2.6) years to evaluate the adequacy of a previously determined safe level of protein intake.2. Subjects were fed on diets which they were habitually accustomed to and which provided a protein level of 0.75 g protein (N × 6.25)/kg body-weight per d as the safe level and an energy intake level of 0.2 MJ/kg body-weight per d. N balances, including an estimate for integumental losses as well as certain biochemical variables, were determined for the last 5 d of two consecutive 20 d diet periods.3. Only two of the twelve subjects were observed to be in negative N balance during the final 5 d of the 40 d period. N balance was generally positive at 8.24 (sd 8.61) mg N/kg body-weight, thus confirming the adequacy of 0.75 g protein/kg body-weight per d as a safe level of protein intake in the majority of the subjects.