title: 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 x 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 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atinmo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egun
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mbofung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D009751:Nutritional Requirements
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins