The protein quality and digestibility of two high lysine (2.9-3.0 g/100 g protein) and tow conventional varieties (lysine content 2.1-2.2 g/100 g protein) of whole grain sorghum milled as flour were assessed through balance studies in 13 children 6-30 months of age. Sorghum protein provided 6.4 or 8.0% of dietary energy. Control diets contained 64% kcal protein as casein. Children consumed 100-150 kcal/kg body weight/day. Sorghum consumption was associated with weight loss or poor weight gain. We found no difference by variety in apparent nitrogen absorption or retention. Mean absorption and retention of nitrogen (+/- SD) from 26 six-day sorghum dietary periods were 46 +/- 17% and 14 +/- 10% of intake, respectively (corresponding preceding casein control values: 81 +/- 5% and 38 +/- 3%). Stool weight and energy losses during sorghum periods averaged 2.5 to 3 times control values. Plasma amino acids were determined in eleven children after 16 days of sorghum consumption. Fasting concentration of total amino acids (TAA) was similar to values previously obtained with wheat protein at similar levels of intake. Total concentration of essential amino acids (TEAA) was low as were concentrations of lysine (Lys) and threonine (Thr). Analysis of postprandial changes of the Lys/TEAA and Thr/TEAA molar ratios confirmed that Lys was the first limiting amino acid.

reflected the protein status rather than the composition of the diet associated with the development of the deficiency state. Whitehead developed two simplified techniques, usable in the field, to relate the concentration of some non-essential amino acids to that of a group of essentials, the ratio beinq-3 directly correlated with the severity of protein deficiency, gauged in part by the serum albumin levels. Arroyave has proposed the ratios of several essential amino acids, indivi dually, to qlycine, as positively correlated with nutritional history and proteLn status (5). Both authors feel that these ratios or indices arc usuful for the recognition of marginal or pre-clinical cases of protein malnutrition. In marasmus, however, they do not serve as a gaucge of severity (8). The present report analyses the relationship between serum total protein, serum albumin and plasma amino acid concentrations in 41 severely malnourished infants and child ren, in an effort to assess their usefulness aq clinical or field tools. Materials and Methods The patients studied represent 41 nearly consecutive unselected cases of severe malnutrition admitted under our care to the British American Hospital in Lima, Peru. In most of them chronologic age was verified by examination of birth or baptismal certificates. Along with anthropometric mea surements, physical examination, routine hematologic studies, serum electrolytes, and appropriate cultures, the initial evaluation included serum total protein, serum albumin, and plasma free amino acid determinations. In all but one case (when it-was drawn 1.5 hours later, after partial rehydration) venous blood samples were obtained wiLhin the first hour after admission. Although we have no reliable data on the * Tyrosine and Cystine have also been included as essentials.

The effect of decortication and extrusion on the apparent protein quality and digestibility of sorghum (S. vulgare) was evaluated in comparative balance studies in nine children 7-24 months of age. Sorghum provided (as kilocalories) 8% protein and 62% carbohydrate in the study diet. Lysine was supplemented to 3% of protein. Casein provided 6.4% protein kilocalories in the control diet. A mixture of sucrose, dextrimaltose and cornstarch provided carbohydrate. Both diets contained 30% fat kilocalories as soybean-cottonseed oil blend. Balance studies were carried out during the last 6 days of three 9-day dietary periods: control-sorghum-control. Apparent N absorption from sorghum was 81 +/- 4% and did not differ from control. Apparent N retention, 21 +/- 6%, was expectedly lower than the preceeding control (27 +/- 8%, P less than 0.05) and following control (33 +/- 7%, P less than 0.01) values. The control values differed significantly from each other (P less than 0.05). Fecal weights and energy losses showed only minor differences between the two diets. These data contrast sharply with previous results obtained with whole-grain sorghum and suggest that the use of decortication and low cost extrusion processing can markedly improve the apparent protein quality and digestibility of sorghum.

ExtractIn nine infants suffering from protein-calorie malnutrition, significantly low values for muscle mass and cell mass which were proportional were observed. These were 1.02%0.44 kg and 2,295*693 pg, respectively (PtO.OO1). The extracellular volume was disproportionally high relative to creatinine excretion before and after rehabilitation. The major loss of muscle mass was due to loss of cell size rather than cell number.The protein/DNA ratio was 78518.7 (PtO.OO1) prior to rehabilitation and 109.6545.1 (Pt0.001) following rehabilitation. The RNA/DNA ratio was low at 0.96f0.26 (P~0.001) prior to rehabilitation while after rehabilitation the value increased to 1.24f0.14 but was still less than normal (PtO.O1).The levels of Mg and Zn per unit DNA were reduced in muscle prior to rehabilitation. These values were 6.650.7 and 35.6%15.8, respectively (PtO.OO1).The significantly reduced protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios after rehabilitation suggest either persistent alteration in mechanisms responsible for protein synthesis or a prolonged period necessary for recovery. Muscle cell number was not reduced for body length after rehabilitation. The mean muscle mass of 1.67f0.64 kg was not significantly different from the normal for body length after rehabilitation.The concentrations of water (39.96% 16.99) and collagen (3.86f2.24) in adipose tissue were elevated (Pt0.01), while that of fat (50.36521.87) was low prior to rehabilitation. The noncollagen protein was constant per gram of tissue in marasmus and following rehabilitation.