Proteins

Essential Amino Acids

• Nonessential (or dispensable) amino acids: more
than half of body proteins are produced by the
body itself

• Essential (or indispensable) amino acids: other

amino acids that cannot be produced by the
body, or not in sufficient enough quantities to
meet bodily needs—must be obtained from
proteins in foods

• Conditionally essential amino acids: special

circumstances may increase the need for a
normally nonessential amino acid; need exceeds
body’s ability to produce the amino acid
 Protein & Health
• Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)
– Food & energy deprivation will result in utilization of
body protein for energy; indirectly resulting in protein
deficiency, as well as energy deficiency
– Occurs in both childhood & adulthood; children most
seriously affected
– Most wide-spread form of malnutrition in world
• Prevalent in Africa, Central & South America, Middle East &
South & East Asia
• U.S. not immune, including but not limited to…
– Impoverished people in cities, rural areas, U.S. Indian
reservations
– Elderly individuals
– Homeless children
– Those suffering from anorexia nervosa
– Two severe forms of PEM: marasmus & kwashiorkor
 Protein Excess
• Problem of developed nations where over consumption of
protein seen; may result in combination of problems
resulting in chronic disease risk
• Heart disease
– Foods rich in animal protein tend to be high in saturated fat
– Research has shown high intake of protein from red meat &
dairy products associated with greater risk of heart disease
• Kidney disease
– High protein intake increases work of kidneys
– Not a cause of kidney disease per se, but worsens existing
kidney disease & may accelerate a decline in functioning
– Restriction of dietary protein one of most effective ways to
slow progression of kidney disease
• Adult bone loss
– Increased excretion of urinary calcium associated with high
protein intake
– Increasing calcium intake may compensate for effects of
protein on urinary calcium excretion
 Protein & Amino Acid
Supplements
• Pros & cons to use of supplements—including safety issues
• Protein supplements
– Commonly include whey protein (byproduct of cheese manufacturing)
– May increase protein synthesis slightly, but do not improve athletic performance
– Surplus of protein must be metabolized, adding burden to kidneys to excrete
excess nitrogen
• Amino acid supplements
– Little research regarding safety, especially in regard to Tolerable Upper Intake
Levels
– Until research available, no level of supplementation can be considered safe
– Growth or altered metabolism makes specific groups of individuals vulnerable to
harm
• Childbearing, pregnant or lactating women
• Infants, children, adolescents
• Elderly
• Individuals with inborn errors of metabolism
• Individuals on therapeutic low-protein diets
• individuals who use supplements without medical supervision
 Protein Recommendations
• RDA adjusted to cover additional needs for building new
tissue: slightly higher for infants, children & pregnant &
lactating women
• Assumptions regarding protein intake:
– Good-quality protein
– Consumed together with adequate energy from carbohydrate
& fat
– Other nutrients in diet will be adequate
– Applied only to healthy individuals with no unusual alteration
in protein metabolism
 Nitrogen Balance
• Comparison of nitrogen lost by excretion
with nitrogen consumed with food
• Nitrogen balance: amount of nitrogen
consumed, compared with the amount of
nitrogen excreted in a given period of time
(zero nitrogen balance)
• Use of body protein for energy results in
negative nitrogen balance
– Fasting or starvation
– Trauma, burns
 Protein in Foods
• Protein quality
– Quality determines how – Amino acid
well children grow & composition: to prevent
how well adults protein breakdown,
maintain health; high- dietary protein must
quality proteins provide supply at least the 9
adequate supply of essential amino acids
essential amino acids – Complementary
needed to support proteins: two or more
body’s work proteins whose amino
– Digestibility: measure acid assortments
of the amount of amino complement each other
acids absorbed from a in such a way that
given protein intake essential amino acids
missing from one are
supplied by another
Complementary proteins: two or more proteins whose amino acid
assortments complement each other in such a way that essential amino
acids missing from one are supplied by another
 Protein Sparing
• Adequate energy must be available
from carbohydrate & fat in order for
efficient utilization of dietary protein
for growth
• Protein will be broken down to meet
energy needs
• Ample carbohydrate & fat needed in
diet to prevent wasting of protein
 Vegetarian Diets
• Quality of diet depends on whether food
choices are based on sound nutrition
principles:
– Adequacy of nutrient intakes
– Balance & variety of foods chosen
– Appropriate energy intake
– Moderation in intakes of substances such as
saturated fats, sodium, alcohol & caffeine
• Exclusion of meat & other animal-derived
foods carry implications for nutrition &
health
 Vegetarian Diets
• Nutritionally-sound vegetarian diets
– Variety in foods to provide all needed nutrients within an
energy allowance that maintains health body weight
– Protein intake usually satisfactory as long as energy intakes
are adequate & protein sources are varied; mixture of proteins
• Whole grains, legumes, seeds & nuts
• Vegetables & other plant sources
• Health advantages to vegetarian diets
– Vegetarian protein foods tend to be higher in fibers, richer in
certain vitamins & minerals, lower in saturated fats
– Informed vegetarians more likely to be at desired weight for
height, & experience fewer health-related problems
• Lower blood cholesterols levels
• Lower rates of certain cancers
• Better digestive function