Final answer:
NPU, or Net Protein Utilization, is indeed a method to determine the quality of protein by evaluating how effectively dietary protein can be converted into proteins within the body. It's true that NPU is a measure of protein quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
NPU (Net Protein Utilization) is indeed a method of determining the quality of protein in the diet by assessing how well the protein in food can be turned into body proteins. It's a measure that combines the percentages of protein digested and absorbed, as well as the amino acid composition of the protein. This is important because a high-quality protein is one that is digested, absorbed, and provides all the essential amino acids in ratios suitable for human use.
Biological value (BV) is another measure of protein quality which focuses on how efficiently the body utilizes the protein consumed. The Biological Value is calculated using the formula (grams of nitrogen retained / grams of nitrogen absorbed) x 100. Generally, complete proteins, such as those from animal sources like eggs and milk, have high biological values. In contrast, plant proteins tend to have lower biological values as they may lack one or more essential amino acids or have less digestibility and absorbability.
Therefore, the statement that NPU is a method to determine protein quality is