Abstract

This study was conducted to obtain accurate data on the intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance of protein in Korean college women. Subjects were 8 female college students, aged from 21 to 23, and maintained their menu and life patterns regular during a 4-week study. The same amount of diet that the subjects had consumed, and feces and urine were collected and measured to extract their nitrogen content by Kjeldahl method. From this data, apparent digestibility and the body nitrogen balance were estimated by determing daily protein intake and excretion. The daily protein intake was 56.9+/-1.4g and daily fecal protein loss was 6.3+/-0.2g. The apparent digestibility of protein was 89.6+/-0.7%. The daily nitrogen intake measured by Kjeldahl method was 9.43+/-0.2g. The urinary nitrogen excretion was 7.64+/-0.23g and fecal nitrogen excretion was 1.02+/-0.03g. The nitrogen balance indicated a positive balance of 0.45+/-0.18g.

• Keywords: apparent digestibility; nitrogen balance; urinary nitrogen; fecal protein