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Nitrogen Balance of Young Adults Consuming a Deficient Diet Supplemented with Torula Yeast and Other Nitrogenous Products¹

Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan

The results of nitrogen metabolism studies performed on young male adult Puerto Ricans consuming a diet typical of low income groups are presented. This diet was supplemented with different nitrogenous products.

1. The subjects on the unsupplemented basal diet (4.61 gm of nitrogen per day) maintained nitrogen equilibrium.

2. Supplementation with torula yeast improved nitrogen retention to a small but significant degree. Torula yeast plus DL-methionine induced a greater retention. Brewers' yeast in an equivalent amount produced a lower nitrogen storage.

3. Skimmed milk as a supplement produced the strongest nitrogen retention, while the non-essential amino acid, glycine, was without effect on the nitrogen balance.

4. Supplementation with an extra amount of rice and beans mixture, alone or together with DL-methionine, induced a significant improvement in nitrogen retention very similar to that obtained with torula yeast.

The significant improvement in nitrogen balance whenever DL-methionine was included as a supplement indicates that the protein of the basal diet used has as its principal limiting factor, a low content of available methionine.

² Present address: Department of Home Economics, College of Education, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras.

Manuscript received 9 February 1959.