Where did the value 1 g protein per lb come from?

amusedmonkey
amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
edited February 22 in Food and Nutrition
Since metric units are the standard in science and most research, where did the convenient 1 g per lb come from? I'm not here to debate the number, I'm just curious about the research it's based on.

Replies

  • Ani45
    Ani45 Posts: 47
    I believe its 1g protein per KG of lean body mass.. And that is only if you are trying to build muscle
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    That would amount to about 40-60 grams for the average woman which is pretty easy to reach. I believe it's actually per lb of body mass.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Since metric units are the standard in science and most research, where did the convenient 1 g per lb come from? I'm not here to debate the number, I'm just curious about the research it's based on.


    I thought it was basically the conversion number. I've seen it listed as the g/kg many times but on a site like this lb would be more relevent.

    I also believe the number is 1gram per lb of lean body mass, not jsut weight but there are a few versions thrown around.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Since metric units are the standard in science and most research, where did the convenient 1 g per lb come from? I'm not here to debate the number, I'm just curious about the research it's based on.


    I thought it was basically the conversion number. I've seen it listed as the g/kg many times but on a site like this lb would be more relevent.

    I also believe the number is 1gram per lb of lean body mass, not jsut weight but there are a few versions thrown around.

    Yes, lean body mass. I dropped a word by mistake. I just find it peculiar that it conveniently amounted or converted to 1g/lb of LBM and it made me curious about the research behind it.
  • ATT949
    ATT949 Posts: 1,245 Member
    That would amount to about 40-60 grams for the average woman which is pretty easy to reach. I believe it's actually per lb of body mass.

    I did some research into this a year or two ago and 1 gm/1 kg is the value advised for endurance runners who are doing light training - I realize that's not specific to your exercise levels but it's a good number to work from.

    That value is backed up by many medical researchers whereas higher levels of intake (1.2 to 1.5 gm/kg) were recommended on web sites that sold protein supplements.

    Personally, I try to eat 100 gm of protein per day and find that it's very easy - even my bread has a good slug of protein.\

    My sense is that most people eat far too much protein…
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,706 Member
    Since metric units are the standard in science and most research, where did the convenient 1 g per lb come from? I'm not here to debate the number, I'm just curious about the research it's based on.


    I thought it was basically the conversion number. I've seen it listed as the g/kg many times but on a site like this lb would be more relevent.

    I also believe the number is 1gram per lb of lean body mass, not jsut weight but there are a few versions thrown around.

    Yes, lean body mass. I dropped a word by mistake. I just find it peculiar that it conveniently amounted or converted to 1g/lb of LBM and it made me curious about the research behind it.

    There is nothing " convenient " about it. The range is from .5 to 1 gram of protein intake per pound of LBM for women age 19 - 70, depending on a whole host of indicators like age, health, activity, medical history etc.
  • corgicake
    corgicake Posts: 846 Member
    Probably some studies marketed toward the GNC crowd.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    From the studies I've seen, the minimum amount would be 0.8 g per kg of body weight for basic activities in inactive individuals (converts to about 0.36 grams/pound) - studies on which RDA is based.

    and that the maximum beneficial protein amount for strength and speed athletes is 1.7 g per body weight (about 0.77 grams/pound) and 1.4 g/kg (about 0.64 grams/pound) for endurance athletes and that any higher level has greatly diminished returns.
    http://www.jissn.com/content/11/1/19
    http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02640419108729866#.U4LkDvmSz8c

    Since the value based on lean body mass instead of body weight falls between these two extremes, I find it to be acceptable. I would just really like to see the research behind it since none of the ones I was able to dig up uses lean body mass as a measure - they all use body weight, and none of them rounds to a nice number like 1 or 0.5 per lb.
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    Since metric units are the standard in science and most research, where did the convenient 1 g per lb come from? I'm not here to debate the number, I'm just curious about the research it's based on.

    The same place that 8 x 8fl oz water per day came from. If you say something enough times, it becomes "fact".
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