[Study on the dietary protein bioavailability by young men of Yi and Tibetan]

To compare the dietary protein intakes and bioavailability of young male adults of Yi and Tibetan.

Two groups of subjects aged from 18 to 22y were respectively recruited from schools of Liangshan Yi autonomous region and Tibetan-Qiang autonomous region. Samples of diet, fecal and urine in the nitrogen balance study for each group of subjects were collected, and the nitrogen content was analyzed by semi-micro-Kjeldahl.

Total protein intake, apparent absorption, true absorption, biological value, net protein utilization and nitrogen balance for the young man of Yi people were 71.55g/d, 73.19%, 79.79%, 47.58%, 38.17% and 0.71g/d. The corresponding figures for young Tibetan man were 94.33g/d, 86.69%, 91.43%, 48.07%, 44.00% and 3.16g/d.

The dietary protein intake and bioavailability of young Tibetan man were better than those of Yi, but both Yi and Tibetan young men were able to keep positive N balance with their respective dietary pattern.