American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 20, 233-242, Copyright © 1967 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Effect of Four Multiples of a Basic Mixture of Essential Amino Acids on Nitrogen Retention of Adult Human Subjects

¹ From Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, and School of Home Economics, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Lafayette, Indiana

Two mixtures of essential amino acids were developed that contained limited amounts of all essential amino acids and maintained nitrogen equilibrium in adult human subjects when part of the amino acids was supplied by white wheat flour and part by crystalline amino acids. A modification of one of these mixtures was useful in studying the effect of simultaneous increments of all essential amino acids on nitrogen balance. Mean nitrogen balances were –0.07, +0.22, +0.56, and +0.72 g, respectively, when 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 times this basic mixture were administered. The regression of nitrogen retention on intake of essential amino acids was linear, and did not differ when 6.00 or 9.00 g of total nitrogen were consumed.