Protein and Amino Acid Nutrition

Perusal of the contents of the present volume will reveal that the past decade has witnessed considerable progress in our understanding of the nutrition of proteins and amino acids. It will be noted in particular that the development and application of new procedures has not only greatly expanded the field of inquiry in experimental animals, but also has made possible the conduct of exact nutritional and biochemical measurements in human subjects of all ages and under a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. Under the continuing assault of micro- and radiochemistry, we have learned that the quantitative and qualitative nutrient needs of mammals are subject to significant species (Mitchell, 1959) and individual (Williams, 1959) differences; and that the need for a specific nutrient in any single species is defined by an almost infinite number of variables; and that the protein value of foods is susceptible to an equally large number of vicissitudes.