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Prolonged Consumption by Infants of Wheat-Based Diets with and without Casein or Lysine Supplementation¹

Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional, Apartado 55 Miraflores (Lima), Peru, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Division of Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD

Infants consumed 75% of calories as 82% extraction wheat flour with satisfactory short-term protein and energy digestion. Protein needs, represented by N retentions from casein, probably were not satisfied. Long-term (3+ months) studies in four infants showed that 50% calories and 80% protein from wheat (casein added to 8% protein calories) supported weight gain and linear growth more than expected. Prolonged feeding of 75% calories and 100% protein from wheat was attempted in three infants. In the oldest (15.5 months), digestibility and growth was satisfactory; in one, despite good digestion, weight gain and growth was inadequate and serum albumin fell until 0.2% lysine was added; and in another, weight gain was satisfactory but albumin fell to 3.25 g/dl and growth was inadequate. In six other infants, lysine addition during the 2nd of 3 months was associated with significant increase in N retention and weight gain and stabilization of albumin; lysine withdrawal resulted in significant decrease in weight gain with no effect on N retention or albumin; growth was barely adequate during 3-month study. Serum cholesterol fell only when dietary protein was inadequate. It is practically impossible for unsupplemented wheat to satisfy protein needs of infants and most small children.

KEY WORDS: • Wheat • infants • lysine supplementation

¹ Supported by research grant HD-10111 from the National Institutes of Health, USPHS and by research contract ta-C-1286 with the Agency for International Development, U. S. Department of State.

Manuscript received 8 December 1980.