Incidence of protein deficiency in relation to different diets in India

Abstract

1. A method is presented for estimating the incidence of protein deficiency which takes due note of the association of protein deficiency with inadequate calorie intake and is applied to the data from dietary surveys in India. It is concluded that in only about one out of ten cases does protein deficiency occur as a direct result of inadequate protein intake. In the vast majority of cases protein deficiency is the result of inadequate intake of total energy. Protein which does not bring calories with it is therefore unlikely to make any significant contribution to the solution of the protein problem in India. 2. It is shown that diets based on cereals and pulses normally consumed by the people can meet man's needs for proteinat all ages provided enough food is taken to satisfy his energy needs. It is, however, important to ensure for infants a smooth transition from breast milk to solid diets. Special care is also necessary in the case of pregnant and lactating women. 3. The nature of protein deficiency is discussed in relation to different dietary patterns. The continuity implied in the bivariate distributions of calorie and protein intake is seen to provide a possible explanation of the experimental results on the development of kwashiorkor observed in animals on a diet short of both calories and protein and ondietspredominantly short of protein.