Nitrogen Utilization During Caloric Restriction II. The Effect of Variation in Nitrogen Intake : One Figure

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Diets supplying graded amounts of egg albumin nitrogen, zero to 604 mg per day, were fed to normal adult rats limited to 50% of caloric requirement for 4 days. Nitrogen utilization was measured by nitrogen balance and by alteration in liver nitrogen content. The degree of negative nitrogen balance was inversely proportional to nitrogen intake but positive balance was not attained. Nitrogen utilization diminished as the level of dietary nitrogen increased from 52 to 61% at 70 to 80 mg daily to 17% at 604 mg, indicating increased use of dietary protein for energy. Supplying half the caloric requirement reduced the nitrogen deficit 32 to 39% as compared with fasting and the addition of dietary nitrogen produced up to 87% sparing beyond that of the calories alone. There was no significant correlation between liver nitrogen loss and nitrogen balance.