Use of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in non-dairy formulas. II. Nitrogen balance in children with lactose intolerance, fed with a formula based on chickpea and a commercial soybean product

The nutritive value of chick-pea and soy infant formulas was evaluated. Nitrogen balance was performed in 17 malnourished babies, seven of which were fed with the chick-pea formula, and 10 with the soy commercial formula (Sobee). The percentage of absorption, retention and biological value of the chick-pea formula were 72.4, 26.4 and 35.1, respectively and 69.6, 24.3 and 34.0 in the same order, with the soy formula. Since the nutritional quality of the chick-pea was not different to the commercial soy formula and the diarrhea was better controlled by the former, this formula could be recommended in the treatment of lactating babies with lactose intolerance.