The protein sparing function of the gut and the quality of food protein

Abstract

Several studies have revealed that the body accumulates Nitrogen after a meal and loses Nitrogen in between meals. This can be proven beyond any doubt, just by carefully measuring Nitrogen balance, if we take into account, that the changes in free amino acid pool content cannot explain the Nitrogen balance changes. In the last decade, stable isotopes have become available, allowing assessment of whole body protein synthesis and degradation, and more recently, of protein turnover of specific proteins or regions in the body.