40 



THE PROTEIN ELEMENT IN NUTRITION 



observation for varying periods of from five to ten days, the 

 percentage of protein absorption from diets containing about 

 26 ounces of rice the other constituents being contant works 

 out to be 54-28 per cent. As the quantity of rice was reduced 

 the other constituents of the dietary remaining constant the 

 percentage absorption of protein gradually rose,* thus 



Diet containing 32 ozs. of rice showed 6-55 grins 

 26 7-85 



24 

 23 

 20 

 19 



8-00 

 8-09 

 8-40 



8-47 



N. absorption, or 45-76 % 

 53-66 , 

 55-39 , 

 59-69 , 

 64-03 , 

 68-33 , 



There can be little doubt that with diets in which rice forms only 

 a small element, in an otherwise non-bulky diet, the percentage 

 absorption of the protein of rice would be comparatively high, 

 probably up to the figure given by Atwater viz., 84 per cent. 



But not only does the great bulk of rice when cooked cause 

 interference with the protein absorption from the rice itself, but 

 it also causes the nitrogenous element of the other constituents 

 of the diet to be less readily absorbed. The same explanation 

 given for the relatively poor absorption of the protein of rice in 

 a bulky diet would hold for any other constituents the whole 

 mass in the stomach having little opportunity of being thoroughly 

 mixed with gastric juice, and, after leaving the stomach, being 

 hurried on past the parts where absorption is best carried out into 

 the large intestine, where absorption is at a minimum. As an 

 illustration of the influence of the volume of diets on the absorp- 

 tion of the protein of its component, the results f obtained in 

 feeding a batch of prisoners for a week on each of the following 

 diets may be cited : 



From these results it is evident that a decrease in the amount 

 of rice from 16 to 12 ounces causes both a relative and actual 



* Scientific Memoirs, Government of India, No. 37, p. 61. 

 f Ibid., No. 37, Chart VIII., p. 132, 



