Contents - Previous - Next

This is the old United Nations University website. Visit the new site at http://unu.edu

TABLE 5. Protein supplies per capita and essential amino acid balances by regions and economic systems (1984-1986 averages)

a. Deficiency of first LAA relative to second LAA, in tons pcr year.
b. Ratio of supply of first LAA to requirement.

The LAA S:R ratios for the new EAA pattern range from 1.6 in the Far East to 3.2 in North America. The ratios of 1.7 in Africa, 1.6 in the Far East, and 1.7 in the Asian centrally planned economies imply that the nutritional status in these regions is precarious. To establish the EAA imbalance throughout the world, table 6 shows the differences between the first LAAs as determined by the new pattern in 110 countries with populations of more than I million in 1984-1986 and those based on the 1985 and 1973 patterns. According to the 1973 pattern, the first LAA is Thr in countries with higher LAA S:R ratios and Lys in countries with lower ratios. although it is SAA in a few African countries where pulses are a staple food. The first LAA according to the 1985 pattern is mostly SAA, though it is tryptophan (Trp) in countries where livestock husbandry is extensive; and Lys is still the first LAA in most countries with LAA S:R ratios lower than 2.0. According to the new pattern, however, for most countries where the ratios are below 3.0, the first LAA is Lys. This remarkable difference indicates that a poor-lysine equator zone encircles the globe. For countries with ratios higher than 3.0 under the new pattern, SAA is limiting rather than Leu.

TABLE 6. Differences in the first limiting amino acid depending on the EAA requirement pattern used, in countries with populations of more than 1 million (1984-1986 averages)

a. Per capita averages.
b. Averages of ratios of supply of first LAA to requirement according to the new requirement pattern.

Economic aspects of essential amino acid imbalance

Figures 1-3 plot the shifts in the imbalance indexes for the first LAA (according to the 1973, 1985, and new patterns respectively) in relation to the average animal-protein ratios and per capita GDP for the four time periods studied in the 23 countries listed in table 4. Generally, the first-LAA I.I.'s tend to increase and approach 1.0 as animal-protein ratios increase successively, up to a limit, with increases in GDP. Beyond this limit, the I.I.'s decrease, so that too high an animal-protein ratio is also disruptive to the LAA.

Figure 1 (see FIG. 1. 1973 EAA scoring pattern: relation between imbalance indexes for the first limiting amino acids and animal-protein ratios in 23 countries with populations over 35 million, in four periods between 1972 and 1986) shows that, if we use the 1973 EAA pattern, the first LAA appears to change gradually from Lys to Thr. For the 1985 pattern. figure 2 (see FIG. 2. 1985 EAA scoring pattern: relation between imbalance indexes for the first limiting amino acids and animal-protein ratios) shows a change in the first LAA from Lys to SAA at lower I.I. levels than in figure 1. In contrast to figures 1 and 2, figure 3 for the 1990 pattern shows a change in the first LAA from Lys to Leu in a narrower belt zone. where the I.I. starts at a lower level and reaches a higher level before turning downward. The correlation of world GDP with animal-protein ratios on average for 1972 to 1986 is also illustrated by these figures. Figure 3 (see FIG. 3. New EAA scoring pattern: relation between imbalance indexes for the first limiting amino acids and animal-protein ratios), based on the 1990 pattern, indicates that deficiencies of Lys are the primary problem in most developing countries and globally.

Conclusion

The standard correlations of global GDP in US dollars at 1980 prices with total protein supplies and animal-protein ratios were calculated using 19841986 data. The current protein supply by country is improving. However, the changes in slope for the global correlations show an upward trend in protein prices, especially for animal protein.

The ratios of supplies to requirements of the first LAA in 23 countries range from 2.0 to 5.3 according to the 1985 essential amino acid pattern. However, they decrease to 1.2-3.4 if we use the 1990 pattern.

The ratio for the world decreases from 3.0 for the former to 2.2 for the latter.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my grateful thanks to Professors Nevin S. Scrimshaw and Vernon R. Young for their advice on this paper; and to the Statistics Division of FAO, the Statistical Office of the United Nations, and the Economic and Social Data Division of the World Bank for providing access to the latest statistical information on world food balances and economics.

References

1. Hoshiai K. Economic aspects of food protein supplies in the world. Food Nutr Bull 1984;6(3):58-65.
2. FAO/WHO Ad Hoc Expert Committee. Energy and protein requirements. FAO Nutritional Meeting Report Series, no. 52; WHO Technical Report Series, no. 522. Geneva: WHO, 1973.
3. FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Energy and protein requirements. WHO Technical Report Series, no. 721. Geneva: WHO, 1985.
4. Hoshiai K. Imbalance situation of essential amino acids in protein supplies in the world. Presented at the 13th International Congress of Nutrition, Brighton. UK, 18-23 Aug 1985.
5. Hoshiai K. Current situation of protein and essential amino acid supplies in Asian countries. Presented at the 5th Asian Congress of Nutrition, Osaka, Japan, 26-29 Oct 1981.
6. Hoshiai K. Current situation of protein supplies and essential amino acid requirements in the world. Presented at the 14th International Congress of Nutrition, Seoul, Korea, 20-25 Aug 1989.
7. Young VR, Bier DM, Pellett PL. A theoretical basis for increasing current estimates of the amino acid requirements in adult man, with experimental support. Am J Clin Nutr 1989;5:80-92.
8. Young VR. Stable isotope applications in protein and amino acid metabolism. Presented at the 14th International Congress of Nutrition, Seoul. Korea, 20-25 Aug 1989.
9. UN Statistical Office. GDP statistical information: 1970-1986. New York; Washington, DC: World Bank Economic Social Data Division, 1989.
10. FAO. Food balance sheets. 1972-1974, 1975-1977, 1979-1981, 1984-1986 averages. Rome: FAO, 19771989.
11. FAO. Amino acid content of foods and biological data on protein. Rome: FAO, 1970.
12. United States Department of Agriculture. Composition of food. Agricultural Handbook. Washington, DC: USDA, 1986.
13. The amino acid composition of foods in Japan. Tokyo: Science and Technology Agency, 1966.
14. Paul AA, Southgate DAT. McCance and Widdowson's The composition of foods. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1978,
15. Eveleth PB, Tanner JM. Worldwide variation in human growth. London: Cambridge University Press, 1976.
16. Marshall WA. Body weights and heights by countries. (ESN: FAO/WHO/UNU EPR/81/8) Rome: FAO, 1981.
17. Measuring change in nutritional status. Geneva: WHO, 1983.
18. Demographic statistics, 1972-1986. New York: United Nations, 1972-1986.
19. World population prospects as assessed in 1982. New York: United Nations, 1985.

Contents - Previous - Next