Research looks at government's
suggested protein daily allowance
By Kurt Esposito
Summer
Editor
Purdue researchers are looking at whether the government
recommended amount of protein is adequate.
The government standard for the recommended dietary
allowance is .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The focus
of the study is to determine whether this amount is sufficient.
Wayne Campbell, assistant professor of foods/nutrition,
said the research is attempting to answer the question "How much
should adult women consume to meet their dietary needs?"
Campbell said the study is at both young women
and elderly women. He said protein is especially important because the
elderly are already prone to skeletal muscle loss, which is worsened
by a lack of protein.
Melissa Blake, clinical dietician at St. Elizabeth’s
Medical Center, said because the elderly are more prone to injuries,
the lack of protein can lead to an increase in healing time. She said
that the elderly are also more likely to undergo surgery, from which
protein accelerates the healing process.
Campbell said earlier research showed that elderly
people, who consumed the recommended amount of protein for 14 weeks,
were found to have significant loss of skeletal muscle size.
The study at Purdue is furthering those findings
by seeing if the suggested amount is enough. People participating in
the study are required to eat only the food provided to them, for anywhere
from several weeks to several months. The researchers test blood, urine
and stool samples as well as look at body composition and adverse changes.
Campbell said once the study is done, the researchers
will then take a look at the recommended amounts for adult males as
well as look at the amount of protein consumed by teen-agers. He said
many teen-agers purposely decrease the amount of protein they consume
because they exclude meat in their diets or lose weight for athletic
performance and body image.
Roseann Lyle, associate professor of health/foods
and nutrition, said, "Teens need protein because they are going
through a period of rapid growth, during which time protein is particularly
important."
She said protein is important for synthesis of
enzymes, hormones and components of immune system. She said if a teen-ager
is purposely eliminating meat from his diet, he should be knowledgeable
of the food selection in order to obtain the protein that is available
in a diet without animal products.
Campbell said the findings will not change the
way people eat but it could have an impact on the recommended amounts.
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