Recovery from Malnutrition: Food Preference and Neophobia
6 protein-malnourished rhesus monkeys were nutritionally rehabilitated by placing them on diets high in protein content. At 60 and 180 days following the initiation of the rehabilitation program, experimental animals and 4 high-protein dietary controls were tested on a preference task designed to determine reactions to foods containing differing quantities of protein and to novel stimuli. Each S was presented a choice of diets containing 2%, 3.5%, or 25% protein, as well as non-food objects. The results indicated that the aversion to novel stimuli (neophobia) and the preference for high-protein food previously reported in protein-malnourished monkeys did not persist following 180 days of rehabilitation. The results suggest that at least part of the behavioral syndrome associated with protein-calorie malnutrition may be improved by 6 mo. of nutritional rehabilitation.