positive nitrogen balance

A body condition in which nitrogen intake exceeds nitrogen output; a normal state for children, pregnant women, or individuals recovering from illness or surgery, whose bodies require extra protein in order to build tissue.

A condition in which the rate of protein synthesis is greater than protein breakdown or loss, resulting in tissue growth. A positive nitrogen balance is the normal situation for children and expectant mothers. Anabolic steroids accelerate protein synthesis and tend to create a positive nitrogen balance.