Net protein utilization: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:52, 10 October 2002

Revision as of 16:55, 10 October 2002

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The '''net protein utilization''', or NPU, is the ratio of [[amino acid]] converted to proteins to the ratio of amino acids supplied. This figure is somewhat affected by the salvage of [[essential amino acid]]s within the body, but is profoundly affected by the level of [[essential amino acid|limiting amino acids]] within a foodstuff.

Experimentally, this value can be determined by determining [[diet|dietary]] [[protein]] intake and then measuring [[nitrogen]] [[excretion]]. One formula for NPU is:

NPU = ((0.16 * (24 hour protein intake in grams)) - ((24 hour urinary [[urea]] nitrogen) + 2) - (0.1 * (ideal body weight in kilograms))) / (0.16 * (24 hour protein intake in grams))