Effect of dietary protein quality on the serum enzymes of rats exposed to simulated hypobaric hypoxic stress.

Changes in dietary protein quality and high altitude stress alter the serum urea cycle enzyme activities. To find a dietary protein which will facilitate quicker acclimatization to altitude stress, groups of rats were fed two diets, isocaloric and isonitrogenous, but differing in amino acid make up. The rats were exposed to simulated altitude stress of 0.5 atmospheric pressure for various periods up to 65 h. When serum arginase and ornithine transcarbamylase activities were assayed, it was seen that the group on the unbalanced protein (Cajanus cajan) diet showed less increase on exposure and a tendency to return to normal level earlier than the group on the balanced protein (egg) diet.