The effect of dilution of milk proteins with non-essential amino acids (L-alanine and L-glutamic acid) on nitrogen retention and biological value of the proteins in children

Abstract

1. The effect of addition of a mixture of two non-essential amino acids (NEA), namely alanine and glutamic acid, to milk proteins on nitrogen retention and the biological value of the proteins was determined in a group of six girls aged 10–11 years.2. The mean daily intakes of milk protein by the children on three diets (1, 3 and 5 ) were 1.41, 1.10 and 0.70 g/kg body-weight. The quantities of NEA added daily to the three diets were 0.97, 0.49 and 0.97 g/kg body-weight respectively.3. Addition of NEA did not bring about any significant increase in N retention in the children. The addition of NEA to milk proteins significantly decreased the biological value of the proteins.