The metabolism of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus in children on a poor Indian diet based on bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum).

Bajra (Penllisetum typhoidellm) is widely consumed as a staple food grain
by millions of people in different parts of India (1). The whole grain is usually
powdered and the flour made into unleavened bread or dumpling for consumption.
The working classes generally prefer bajra to softer grains like rice because
it is cheaper and considered to possess high sustaining qualities. The overall nutritive
value of poor vegetarian diets based on bajra has been studied by certain
groups of workers using the rat-growth method (2, 3). The results have shown
that there was no significant difference between the growth-promoting value of
poor vegetarian diets based on bajra or wheat (2). Metabolic studies in children
carried out in India have been confined to diets based on rice, ragi and jowar
(4-7). The present paper deals with the hitherto unreported studies on the
metabolism of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus in children on a poor Indian
diet based on bajra.