Effect of protein and taurine content of maternal diet on the physical development of neonates.

The effect of taurine and/or protein composition of maternal diets was examined for effects on survival rates and growth of neonates. Most of the effects observed are attributable to the influence of such diets on both the quantity and quality of the milk supplied to the neonates. The taurine and protein content of the diets exhibit an interdependent relationship with respect to regulating the protein and taurine concentration of the milk. The overall effect of dietary taurine was to increase neonatal survival during the period that the mothers received a protein-deficient diet.