Final answer:
True, proteins with high Net Protein Utilization (NPU) values are desirable for athletes as they indicate high efficiency in providing essential amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth.
Option 1.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proteins with high Net Protein Utilization (NPU) values are indeed more desirable for athletes. This is because NPU is a measure of how well the dietary protein can be turned into bodily proteins.
A high NPU value indicates that the protein is highly efficient at providing the essential amino acids necessary for muscle repair and growth, which are critical for athletes who need to recover from training and improve their performance.
Animal proteins such as those found in eggs and milk have high biological values, which are close to 100%.
This indicates that they contain all the essential amino acids in proportions very similar to what the human body needs, and are also highly digestible and absorbable.
Since maintaining a positive nitrogen balance is important for muscle growth and repair, proteins with high biological values, and therefore high NPU values, are particularly beneficial for athletes.
The term 'biological value' of protein refers to how efficiently food protein, once absorbed, is turned into body tissue protein.
A protein with a 100% biological value is theoretically capable of replacing all of the body's protein loss. Athletes looking to maintain or increase their muscle mass would prioritize high NPU and high biological value proteins to maximize the benefits of their protein intake.