title: Protein requirements of marginally nourished lactating women.
abstract: Few experimental data regarding protein requirements of lactating women are available. This study was designed to determine the protein requirement of seven healthy lactating women from a poor Mexican community who were 2-6 mo postpartum and had a mean body mass index of 21.8 +/- 2 kg/m2. Nitrogen balances were performed at intakes of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 g.kg body wt-1.d-1 of a mixed protein diet (70% derived from vegetable sources). A balance at 1.2 g.kg body wt-1.d-1 of a high-quality mixed protein (80% from animal sources) was the reference. The experimental diets were designed to resemble the habitual diet in terms of energy and macronutrients. The balance responses to nitrogen intake were -35.5 +/- 12.6, -10.5 +/- 14.8, and 7.8 +/- 19.2 mg N.kg body wt-1.d-1, respectively. Equilibrium balance was attained at 178.9 +/- 25.8 mg N (1.1 g protein.kg body wt-1.d-1), close to current recommended dietary allowances, albeit the dietary protein was mostly from vegetable sources.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Nutrición, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional, IMSS, México.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DeSantiago
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villalpando
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ortíz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000592:standards*; D004063:Digestion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009753:Nutritive Value
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009584:Nitrogen