American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 24, 200-206, Copyright © 1971 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Lysine enrichment of wheat flour: prolonged feeding of infants

¹ From the Grace Department of Research, British American Hospital, Lima, Peru, and the Departments of Pediatrics, Baltimore City Hospitals and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

White wheat flour enriched with lysine was the only source of protein in the diet of six convalescent malnourished infants for 3-6 months. At 8 % protein calories the equivalents of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4% lysine enrichment were equally effective in supporting normal linear growth, weight gain, nitrogen retention, serum proteins, plasma amino acids, and liver morphology. Between 6.4 and 7.3 % protein calories there was almost certainly an advantage to 0.2 % over 0.1 % enrichment, and possibly to 0.4 over 0.2% enrichment, by the same parameters. If wheat is to be enriched with lysine in those areas where it is the main source of protein for many infants and small children, and where dilution by nonprotein calories is the rule, at least 0.2% enrichment is recommended.