Studies on the Effects of Protein Depletion and of Realimentation with Diets Containing Different Levels of Peanut Protein or Casein on the Composition of Liver, Muscle and Body of Young Albino Rats

In view of the inadequate supply of milk and other protein-rich foods of animal origin in many developing countries, investigations have been carried out by several workers on the use of protein-rich foods of vegetable origin e.g. oilseed meals and legumes in the treatment and prevention of protein malnutrition in children. The proteins of vegetable origin are, in general, deficient in one or more of the essential amino acids and hence possess a lower nutritive value than animal proteins. It is known, however, that deficiencies of amino acids in individual vegetable proteins could be made up by the use of blends of proteins in suitable proportions. Recent investigations have shown that blends of isolated proteins from peanut and soya bean along with skim milk or casein, possess a high protein efficiency ratio and are highly effective in the treatment of protein malnutrition.