Digestibility and Utilization of the Energy and Protein of Wheat by Infants

Abstract

The lack of suitable foods for weaned infants is a major nutritional problem in most of the world. The tolerance to and digestibility of wheat as pasta was studied in the diets of nine convalescent malnourished infants ages 7 to 18 months, weight 6 to 11 kg. Pasta diets provided 25, 50 or 75% of energy as wheat. Protein provided 6.6% of energy in 25% wheat (50% casein-50% wheat protein) and 50% wheat (100% wheat protein). The 75% pasta diet provided 9.8% energy as wheat protein. Balance studies were carried out during the last 6 days of seven 9-day dietary periods. Appropriate isoenergetic-isonitrogenous casein control periods separated pasta periods. Apparent N retention during consumption of a 50:50 mixture of casein and wheat protein equalled that of casein alone. Apparent N retention during consumption of pasta at 9.8% protein-energy was inferior to casein in five children, similar in three children and superior in only one. Digestibility of wheat at all three levels of intake was excellent. Apparent N absorption did not differ from casein. Analysis of variance showed no effect of consumption of increased amounts of wheat on apparent N absorption or stool wet weight. A linear relation to fecal energy and fecal carbohydrate content was found. Although the latter relationships were highly significant statistically, the incremental loss of energy in the stool at 75% pasta over 50% pasta was less than 3% of total energy intake, a value of minor biological significance. Pasta can readily provide a substantial proportion of the energy and protein in the diet of infants and should be valuable as a weaning food in developing countries. Without lysine supplementation, however, it cannot easily satisfy their protein needs.