Protein and energy utilization of brown, undermilled and milled rices by preschool children

Abstract

The protein and energy utilization of brown, undermilled and milled rices (variety IR32) were studied in 5–6 preschool children through diets in which 2/3 of N was from rice and 1/3 from casein or milk powder at 200 or 250 mg N/kg body weight. Brown rice was not significantly inferior to milled rice in terms of nitrogen absorption and retention by the children. Its energy and fat contents were, however, less utilized than those of milled rice. Children on the control casein or milk diets showed better apparent nitrogen absorption than those on the rice-based diets but nitrogen retention of all the diets was similar in all three experiments.