Editorial Uncertainties in the Interpretation and Validity of Long-Term Balance Studies

is known about the physiology and pathology of habitually high intakes of a number of nutrients. ’ A related field of uncer-tainty concerns the interpretation and validity of continuously high retentions of certain nutri-ents. Many balance studies reported in the literature are perplexing in this regard, and the following examples are illustrative. Protein. In Kampala, Uganda, Holmes et al.2 carried out long-term balance investiga-tions which lasted several months on mal-nourished Bantu adults. Observations revealed consistently high retention of nitrogen (up to 10 gm. per diem). Such retentions, however, were accompanied usually by far lower gains i