Question

Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) is used as a measure of growth expressed in terms of:

• A. Weight gain of an adult by consuming 1 g of food protein.
• B. Weight gain of an adult by consuming 100 g of food protein.
• C. Protein nitrogen that is retained by the body by consuming 1 g of food protein.
• D. Protein nitrogen that is retained by the body by consuming 100 g of food protein.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) is a common metric for assessing protein quality. It quantifies the body weight increase (in grams) relative to each gram of protein ingested. This metric is valuable for determining a protein's capacity to promote growth.

• Option A: Correct. PER is determined by dividing the weight gain of a subject (typically a laboratory animal or human) by the grams of dietary protein consumed.
• Option B: Incorrect. PER is calculated per 1 gram of protein, not per 100 g.
• Option C and D: Incorrect. These options pertain to biological value or net protein utilization, which account for nitrogen retention, unlike PER.

Consequently, PER is most accurately defined as weight gain per gram of protein consumed.