When an individual has a ____ nitrogen balance, excess dietary protein is converted into ____.
A) negative; energy
B) positive; energy
C) negative; nucleic acids
D) positive; protein for storage
E) both b and d are true

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a positive nitrogen balance, the body is retaining more nitrogen than it is excreting, which typically indicates that the body is in a state of growth, repair, or is experiencing an increase in muscle mass. In this state, dietary protein can be used for energy if needed, but more importantly, it is used for the synthesis of new proteins, not for storage as proteins per se, but for the synthesis of new bodily proteins. The option mentioning energy is also technically correct because excess dietary protein can indeed be converted into energy.

When an Individual Has a ____ Nitrogen Balance, Excess Dietary