[Relation of the energy content of fats and proteins as an indicator of energy-protein potential of population diets].

The protein-calorie (Po/o) and the protein value (NDpCalo/o) have been proposed as indices to evaluate the potentiality of diets to meet protein and calorie needs of a given population. The fat-calorie to protein-calorie ratio (G/P) is presented as a complementary index, considering the possibility that the values of Po/o and NDpCalo/o can be adequate but that the energy density of the diets is too low, as might be the case in many rural communities of the developing countries. On the basis of the evidence discussed in this paper, the G/P ratio estimated as adequate is 2.5, and values lower than 2 can be considered as nutritionally unacceptable.