The Dietary Value of Potato Protein

Abstract

Four groups of white rats were placed on a diet consisting of 100 gm. boiled potato, 1 gm. salt mixture, 5 gm. butter and 25 cc. of water. Its protein content of 7.6% was provided by the potato. The effect of such a diet on growth, gestation and lactation was observed. Young rats grew slowly as compared with normals and were in poor condition, their hair coming out badly. They also aged prematurely. New potatoes were no better than old ones in correcting this condition. While the animals were not sterile, neither were they able to bear litters of live young and rear them through weaning. Lactation was also a failure. The quantity of protein rather than the quality is given as the cause of these failures.