The nutritive value of a rice and soybean diet for adults

Abstract

The nutritive value of rice and soybean diets was studied in seven male subjects aged 22 to 28 years. The subjects received these diets containing different levels of protein (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g/kg body weight per day) for three consecutive periods of 11 days each. True digestibility, true nitrogen balance, biological value and net protein utilization were determined. The mean protein requirement, calculated by linear regression from data for different protein levels was 93.35 mgN/kg body weight/day. True digestibility (mean±SD) was 78.8±8.8%, 82.4±4.9% and 81.4±7.3%, and net protein utilization was 57.1±16.8%, 59.3±10.5% and 64.8±5.1% for the three protein levels. It is concluded that a rice and soybean diet supplies a good protein combination whose nutritive value is similar or better than other regional diets being thus considered a good alternative for the population of countries where these foods are available.