Objective The goal of this study was to analyze protein requirements in healthy adults through a meta-analysis of nitrogen balance studies. Methods A comprehensive search for nitrogen balance studies of healthy adults published up to October 2012 was performed, each study were reviewed, and data were abstracted. The studies were first evaluated for heterogeneity. The average protein requirements were analyzed by using the individual data of each included studies. Study site climate, age, sex, and dietary protein source were compared. Results Data for 348 subjects were gathered from 28 nitrogen balance studies. The natural logarithm of requirement for 348 individuals had a normal distribution with a mean of 4.66. The estimated average requirement was the exponentiation of the mean of the log requirement, 105.64 mg N/kg·d. No significant differences between adult age, source of dietary protein were observed. But there was significant difference between sex and the climate of the study site （P〈0.05）. Conclusion The estimated average requirement and recommended nutrient intake of the healthy adult population was 105.64 mg N/kg·d （0.66 g high quality protein/kg·d） and 132.05 mg N/kg·d （0.83 g high quality protein/kg·d）, respectively.
Objective To accurately calculate the protein requirements in Chinese young adults using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique. Methods Nine women and ten men received a restricted daily level of protein intake （0.75, 0.82, 0.89, 0.97, and 1.05 g/kg）, along with L-[1-13C]-Ieucine. Subjects＇ protein requirement was determined by a biphasic linear regression crossover analysis of F13C02 data. In doing so, a breakpoint at the minimal rate of appearance of 13C02 expiration specific to each level of dietary protein was identified. This trial was registered with the Chinese clinical trial registry as ChiCTR-ONC-11001407. Results The Estimated Average Requirement （EAR） and the Recommended Nutrient Intake （RNI） of protein for healthy Chinese young adults were determined to be 0.87 and 0.98 g/（kg.d）, respectively, based on the indicator amino acid oxidation technique. Conclusion The EAR and RNI of mixed protein are 5% and 16% that are lower than the current proposed EAR and RNI {0.92 and 1.16 g/（kg.d）, respectively）, as determined by the nitrogen balance method. The respective EAR and RNI recommendations of 0.87 and 0.98 g/（kg.d） of mixed protein are estimated to be reasonable and suitable for Chinese young adults.
LI MinWANG Zhi LingGOU Ling YanLI Wei DongTIAN YuanHU Yi ChunWANG RuiPIAO Jian HuaYANG Xiao GuangZHANG Yu Hui
