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Supplementation of Cereal Proteins with Amino Acids

II. Effect of Amino Acid Supplementation of Corn-Masa at Intermediate Levels of Protein Intake on the Nitrogen Retention of Young Children¹

Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), Guatemala, C. A.

Two boys aged 22 and 18 months, weighing 8.9 and 9.2 kg, respectively and recently recovered from severe protein malnutrition (kwashiorkor), were fed a simplified basal diet providing 2.0 gm of protein per kilogram in which corn-masa was the only protein source. A third post-kwashiorkor boy aged 4 years and 9 months and weighing 15.6 kg was given the basal diet at a level of 1.5 gm per kilogram per day. Nitrogen absorption and retention were measured with each combination for two successive three-day periods as this diet was supplemented step-wise with essential amino acids to match the amino acid pattern of the F.A.O. "reference protein." Initial iso-caloric, iso-proteic milk protein comparison periods were included for the two younger children.

At the levels of protein intake used, the single addition of either tryptophan or lysine did relatively little to restore the negative nitrogen balance occurring with the basal diet, but giving tryptophan and lysine together resulted in markedly increased nitrogen retention in each case. Nitrogen retention was further improved by isoleucine addition but decreased by methionine added at a level intended to match that of the "reference protein." Nitrogen absorption varied from 63 to 81%. The children tended to maintain or gain weight when nitrogen balance was positive and to lose weight slightly during or immediately following periods of negative balance.

The results show that even at an intermediate level of protein intake, the supplementation of vegetable protein with the appropriate essential amino acids can result in good nitrogen retention by young children.

Manuscript received 26 May 1958.