The biology of amino acid requirements: what do they mean and can we measure them?

Abstract

To answer this question we must start by considering the terminology that surrounds nutrient ‘requirements’ in general, and protein and amino acid requirements in particular (Reeds & Beckett, 1995). I believe that a number of the issues are clarified if we explicitly distinguish between amino acid needs (which are a function of growth and physiological status), dietary requirements (which are influenced by bioavailability and the efficiency of utilization) and recommended dietary allowances (which purportedly account for individual variation in both needs and requirements).