Excess energy and nitrogen balance at protein intakes above the requirement level in young men

Effects ofexcess energy on nitrogen balance at above the safe level of protein intake were studied in six young men. They were given test diets with a fixed protein intake of 1.2 g. kg' . d' but with three successive energy (E) levels: at maintenance (1 .0 E), 15% above maintenance (1 . 15 E) and 30% above maintenance (1 .3 E), both in ascending (1 .0 E, 1. 15 E, 1.3 E) and descending (1.3 E, 1. 15 E, 1.0 E) sequences. Duration of each dietary period was 10 d. N balance increased from 7.2 to 23.8 to 33.3 mg N. kg1 . d' in the ascending series and decreased from 27.8 to 17.6 to 4.8 mg N. kg1 . d' in the descending series. The changes in N balance per 100 kcal change in energy intake ranged between 144 and 243 mg with smaller changes at higher energy levels. Biological value and net protein utilization ofthe dietary pro- tein were positively correlated with energy intake in both the ascending series and the descend- ing series (p < 0.00 1). Am J C/in Nuir 1988;48: 1015-22.