the non - invasive indicator system of this invention is directed at determining the relative level of approximate nitrogen turnover and balance of an individual , particularly an individual engaged in a dietary or exercise program and most specifically in a health and fitness program with attention to both diet and exercise . the indicator system comprises a simple field test method for athletic training programs where both exercise and dietary regimens are deliberately regulated to maximize the positive effect of the training program . the indicator system is designed for human use , but is adaptable to animal use , particularly for training programs involving speed or endurance . while a number of factors directly influence the nitrogen balance , predominant factors are the quantity and quality of amino acids consumed in the form of dietary protein and the intensity , duration and frequency of the physical training regimen . intense physical exercise can result in a hypermetabolic state that elevates an individual &# 39 ; s energy requirements to three times as high as a basal state . this can result in a catabolic or protein deficient state in which the body responds by utilizing its own amino acid supply resulting in fatigue and muscle cannibalization . while elaborate quantitative tests can be performed to precisely determine the nitrogen balance of an individual , the procedure requires the exact cataloging of the amino acid intake including the type of protein and its utilization factor , that is , the measure of the effectiveness in which the body can utilize that particular type of protein . nitrogen loss , through the various pathways previously enumerated , must also be quantified . intake and loss must then be compared to determine the surplus or deficiency during the period measurements are performed . this invention provides a personal system for an individual to establish his own baseline level of approximate nitrogen turnover and balance and to determine the state of his nitrogen balance by a simple , non - invasive test . as shown in fig1 an indicator stick or detection wand , designated generally by the reference numeral 10 is fabricated from a plastic strip 12 with a reagent area or zone 14 at one end of the strip having a chemical reagent 16 thereon that reacts with urine to indicate the level of nitrogen in the specimen of urine tested . the reactive ingredients of the reagent are urease and bromthymol blue under a permeable membrane . the urease reacts with the urea in the urine to hydrolyze the urea to carbon dioxide and ammonium hydroxide . the liberated ammonium hydroxide increases the ph of the specimen and the shift in alkalinity is indicated by the change in hue of the bromthymol blue . to achieve the range desired , the reagent zone is impregnated with 3 . 2 i . u . of urease and 33 mcg . bromthymol blue . a non - reactive yellow dye is added to the reagent to provide a convenient color scale change from yellow through green to dark blue - green for comparison with a color block grid . as shown in fig2 a convenient wallet - size card 18 includes a series of color blocks 20 forming a color block grid 22 having hue variations that are calibrated in range steps of 50 , 287 . 5 , 525 , 762 . 5 and 1000 to indicate milligram quantities of urea nitrogen per decaliter of urine sample . the color block chart is calibrated to define the current level of nitrogen in the urine sample . by careful repetition of a recommended test procedure , a reasonable accuracy can be established in measuring the level of nitrogen in the urine specimen . in order for the user to have a comparative means to determine whether the tested level of urea nitrogen conforms to an anabolic or catabolic state , the user must establish a baseline representing the balanced state . to establish a personal baseline , the user records a series of tests performed under relatively constant programs of moderate exercise and preferably normal diet . during the period of establishing the baseline , there should be no overall weight gain or weight loss . as an example , to establish a baseline level of approximate nitrogen balance , a period of at least three days is used for testing . the trainee &# 39 ; s urine is tested upon waking ( within 30 minutes of waking and before breakfast ); before lunch ; before moderate exercise ( zero to 30 minutes prior ); after exercise ( one to two hours and before eating ); and prior to bedtime ( zero to 30 minutes ). the same testing procedure is utilized for each test . the indicator stick 10 is wet at the reagent zone by a urine stream or with a least two drops of urine . the reagent zone is wiped clean with a tissue after 15 seconds of contact . at the end of 60 seconds the color of the reagent area is compared with the color blocks 20 of the reference grid 22 on the chart card 18 and the quantitative level of urine nitrogen read . to conveniently record each result of the tests , a graph pad 24 having sheets 25 with a reference grid 26 for plotting the test results during the baseline test procedure . after three days of testing , a fourth chart can be constructed using the average of each of the five daily periods . this chart will provide a convenient reference to the normal fluctuations that occur during the day . to convert the nitrogen level tests to a general protein balance baseline , the average five periods are again in turn averaged to provide a single value signifying the baseline balance point for future reference . this can be provided on a stick - on conversion strip 28 as shown in fig2 . the stick - on conversion strip has a center balance arrow 29 that aligns with the appropriate nitrogen level in the color block grid 22 representing the averaged value . the conversion strip 28 is divided into plus and minus segments having values designating the approximate excess or deficiency of protein in grams per day . to determine the effects of physical training alterations , the diet should be held relatively constant for five consecutive days while training changes occur . diet is recorded and listed for nitrogen content on the diet record pad 34 shown in fig4 . the diet record pad 34 has sheets 36 with a graph format for recording grams of dietary protein over a five day test period . fluctuations in nitrogen excretion , relative to nitrogen intake , reflect effects of physical training . similarly , to determine the effect of dietary alterations , hold the physical training constant for five consecutive days while diet changes take place . diet is recorded and listed for nitrogen content . fluctuations in nitrogen excretion , relative to nitrogen intake , reflect effects of the diet . preferably , for such determinations , the test procedure for determining the baseline , that is the phase i procedure , should be utilized . in phase 2 , the test procedure can be reduced to three period during the day : waking ( within 30 minutes of waking and before breakfast ); before an exercise workout ( zero to 30 minutes prior ); and after the workout ( one to two hours and before a snack ). if desired , these can similarly be recorded on the record pad 24 . adjustments can be made in the position of the nitrogen balance conversion sticker 28 as more information is compiled . the conversion sticker has a &# 34 ; sticky - back &# 34 ; that permits the strip to be repeatedly repositioned . finally , after the trainee has determined a reliably personal baseline , the trainee can engage in a phase 3 maintenance program where the urine is tested only before workout ( zero to 30 minutes prior ); and after workout ( one to two hours and before a snack ). the use of the system to self - test the urine to determine nitrogen content and establish the trainee &# 39 ; s status on an anabolic / catabolic spectrum provides a quantitative basis for modifying the trainee &# 39 ; s dietary and workout programs to maximize the utilization of intake protein and minimize the dangers of a catabolic state from excess intense training . the athlete is provided with a means for determining whether his diet is a proper balance of protein and carbohydrates , whether the athlete is wasting intake protein by overconsumption of protein and whether the desired anabolic level is being maintained . because of the availability of protein supplements with an accurately determined useable protein content , variations in diet using such supplements can assist in determining a reliable baseline , and can be used to quantitatively adjust protein intake to accommodate variations in the trainee &# 39 ; s physical exercise program . similarly , the availability of other nutritional supplements of quantified content suggest use of a similar urine test strip test to determine excess or deficiency in other nutritional substances detectable in the urine . the auxiliary test utilizes a secondary reagent zone 32 with a reagent that reacts to the nutritional substance or product of the nutritional substance in the urine . although the term trainee is used herein , it is to be understood that this term includes animals , as well as humans , and dieters as well as athletes . while , in the foregoing , embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention , it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention .
a nitrogen test kit for determining the relative level of nitrogen of a user who is involved in a health program where diet and exercise are monitored and adjusted for optimizing physical development , the kit including a plastic stick having a reagent zone on which is included a reactant such as urease , and a ph indicator such as bromthymol blue , used in conjunction with color chart blocks representing a range of urea nitrogen concentrations , wherein the user &# 39 ; s urine nitrogen content can be determined by comparing the altered color of the reagent zone of an exposed test strip to the color chart and compared with a personal baseline level , developed from a number of tests under controlled conditions , for determining the present protein nitrogen turnover and approximate balance .