American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 13, 250-253, Copyright © 1963 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Nutritive Value of Selected Proteins and Protein Combinations

II. Biological Value Predictability

¹ From the Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California

The biological values of simple proteins and meal patterns have been predicted and compared to the experimental biological values of these proteins previously reported. The per cent deviation of predicted from experimental biological values was high in simple or more complex proteins limiting in an essential amino acid. In general the per cent deviation of predicted from experimental biological values was greatest in simple proteins, less with meal patterns and least in meals when a probable deficit of an essential amino acid was supplied either by the addition of the limiting amino acid or supplementary proteins. When supplementary proteins were included in meal patterns, the predicted biological value was within approximately 10 per cent of the experimental value. In the average of ten diets the predicted and experimental biological values were 69 and 68, respectively.

Biological value prediction can be a tool in designing experimental programs and can be used by nutritionists to determine quality of protein in meals as eaten by subjects or groups tested.