Protein-Energy Interactions (International Dietary Energy Consultative Group - IDECG, 1991, 437 pages): Research needs: 2. Protein metabolism and requirements: 2.2. Amino acid requirements

Protein-Energy Interactions (International Dietary Energy Consultative Group - IDECG, 1991, 437 pages)

Research needs

2. Protein metabolism and requirements

		2.1. Amino acid oxidation
		2.2. Amino acid requirements
		2.3. Protein requirements during pregnancy and lactation
		2.4. Control of urea recycling from the gut
		2.5. Limits to the de novo synthesis of 'conditionally essential' amino acids
		2.6. Special roles of particular amino acids

2.2. Amino acid requirements

There is consensus that more work is needed both on the total amount and on the pattern of amino acid requirements at different ages. It is probable that the pattern differs for maintenance and for growth. It is not clear why, given an appropriate pattern of intake, the obligatory losses can seldom be met with an efficiency of more than 70%. We have almost no information about the extent to which, under stress, it is possible to economize amino acids by reducing obligatory losses, since almost all previous studies have been done on well-nourished subjects.