Assessment of protein needs of Nigeria adult males using short-term nitrogen balance technique

Protein requirement of Nigerian adult males aged 21-27 years from two different geographical locations in Nigeria was determined as a basis of comparison with previous studies. Eighteen young men from Northern and Southern Nigeria were recruited into the study and fed on a customary Nigerian mixed diet. The subjects were divided into dietary regimen groups of four protein levels (0.4, 0.7, 0.8 and 0.9 g protein/kg/day) at ordinary level of energy intake of 0.18 MJ/kg/day. The groups were assigned either an ascending or descending sequence of dietary changes. From regression analysis, the Nitrogen requirement for Nitrogen equilibrium was estimated to be 108.0±9.45 mg N/kg/day (0.68 g protein/kg/day) and 110.8±14.53 mg N/kg/day (0.69 g protein/kg/day) for the Northern and Southern groups respectively. Estimates for allowances to cover 97.5% of the population were 126.9 mg N/kg/day (0.79 g protein/kg/day) and 139.9 mg N/kg/day (0.87 g protein/kg/day) for the groups respectively. The mean Net Protein Utilization (NPU) for the diet was 64±1.29 with a true digestibility of 95.1±1.82. The requirement compared favorably and difference was not significant from previous studies. Thus, there is no need to set different requirements for any part of the country.