Nitrogen balance

karky · 10-25-2008, 04:53 AM

Being in nitrogen balance is considered a good thing, and I've often heard that there is no point in ingesting more protein than what makes you be in nitrogen balance.

Let's say that someone were able to perfectly measure my nitrogen balance and conclude that I was in balance. Don't I want to be in a positive balance? with more intake than I expell.. wouldn't that mean that my body is somehow storing the rest of the protein, and one way that could be done is by creating muscle? Does that sound correct.. or is my logic flawed?

perrogrande007 · 10-25-2008, 08:18 AM

Your body doesn't store protein, and muscle growth is determined by many factors.

As far as no point in ingesting more protein than what puts you in nitrogen balance...that is a highly debatable subject.

karky · 10-25-2008, 08:20 AM

I know it doesn't store protein per se. But if my nitrogen output equals my input, doesn't that basically mean that none of it is left in the body? doesn't it take some of this nitrogen to hypertrophy muscle, since muscle has a lot of protein. Basically, if you want to add protein tissue to your body, won't you have to consume more nitrogen than you expell?

Barrett · 10-25-2008, 09:01 PM

It all has to do with the free amino acid pools in your body. They are all over your body: skeletal muscle is the one I am guessing you are worried about. If want to gain muscle you want to be in a positive nitrogen balance. So the amino acid in would have to be greater then the amino acids out. So yo want to eat food and have degenergation of protiens. (SORRY FO THE SPELLINGS

)

Also, if you are trying to gain muscle, you have to consume about 400 more calories and 14 g of protein to gain one pound of muscle. I find that now a days people look to much into the protein facotr and not the caloire factor. Protein is a very inefficent source of energy(due to the fact that you burn calories just digesting it). So I would worry about just getting in the calories, and try and have nutrient dense sources.

perrogrande007 · 10-25-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrett

Also, if you are trying to gain muscle, you have to consume about 400 more calories and 14 g of protein to gain one pound of muscle. I find that now a days people look to much into the protein facotr and not the caloire factor. Protein is a very inefficent source of energy(due to the fact that you burn calories just digesting it). So I would worry about just getting in the calories, and try and have nutrient dense sources.

I agree that protein is a very inefficient form of energy, but can you elaborate on the "400 more calories and 14g of protein to gain one pound of muscle?" and also on the "You burn calories just digesting it."

Cynic · 10-26-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perrogrande007

I agree that protein is a very inefficient form of energy, but can you elaborate on the "400 more calories and 14g of protein to gain one pound of muscle?" and also on the "You burn calories just digesting it."

Well, I know the body has to expend some energy to fuel the process of digesting food. Protein having a higher thermic than carbs.

However, I think most would agree, you're not eating protein for the energy, but rather the AAs for muscle development.

As for the 400 and 14, I have no idea.