The absorption and retention of nitrogen from leaf protein by infants recovering from malnutrition

In underdeveloped countries no source of protein can be neglected that is likely to be useful as human food.Duckworth and his colleagues have shown that leaf protein (LP) prepared by the method of Morrison & Pirie (1961) has good nutritive value for chicks, rats and pigs (Duckworth & Woodham, 1961; Duckworth, Hepburn & Woodham, 1961).These results were encouraging enough to justify trials on human subjects.Balance studies were therefore made on Jamaican infants recovering from malnutrition.T o give LP as the sole source of nitrogen would not be realistic; it is more likely to be useful as one component of a vegetable protein supplement.In Jamaica the most readily available sources of protein, apart from green leaves, are legumes and coconuts.London, W. 2.