Functions of protein

Perform all 3 functions of nutrients:

1. Provide energy
2. Promote growth
3. Regulates body process

Note: They function as hormones, enzymes & buffers

Functions are determined by their unique tertiary shape
Found in muscle, soft tissue, bones, teeth and blood
No protein in sweat, bile and urine when in good health

Amino Acids
• Proteins are the polymers of amino acids
• Non essential are dispensable and can be made when there is enough COHN in
the diet
• But it becomes indispensable when production is limited due to sickness or injury
• Amino acids are identifiable by their side chainswhen forming protein side
chain determines proteins function
No storage of amino acid in the body; excess is excreted
Storage is in form of cellular protein energy or fat

Dispensable/non essential amino acid are made in the body given enough COHN
Indispensable / essential amino acid cannot be made in the body and supplied by a diet

Indispensable/ Essential Amino Acid TV TILL PM H

• Threonine
• Valine
• Tryptophan
• Isoleucine

Dispensable/ Non essential

• Proline
• Asparagine
• Serine

Conditional Indispensable Amino Acid: normally dispensable but when ability to make
becomes impaired becomes an essential amino acid
• Tyrosine: essential for people with PKU, lacks the enzyme that converts
phenylalanine to tyrosine
• Cysteine: essential in preemies
• Arginine: essential when person is ill or under physiological stress
• Glutamine: essential for trauma or critically ill person burn patient
•
Metabolic Pools of Amino Acids (Anabolism and catabolism)
• State of equilibrium with constant buildup and breakdown and interchange of
amino acids.
• 3% of total boy protein is replaced each day.
The body saves protein and reuses the amino acid from tissue breakdown to build new
tissue
Protein Turnover: the constant recycling of protein in the body
Most active are: intestinal mucosa, pancreas, liver, kidney & plasma protein
Less active: Brain, muscle and skin
• If not enough protein body protein is broken down to replenish amino acid
pool loss of essential body tissue
Amino Acid Pool: cells break down protein amino acid return to circulation and
becomes part of the amino acid pool

Nitrogen containing end product of protein are excreted in urine via kidneys
Liver removes amino groups from excess amino acid convert to urea for excretion by
kidneys

Protein Structure
1. Primary amino acid peptide bonds= peptides (true bond)
2. Secondary: alpha helix or beta pleated sheet hydrogen bond
3. Tertiary: 3d shape; intermolecular forces determines proteins function and
interaction with other molecules
4. Quaternary: more than 1 polypeptide via intermolecular forces
Note: Intermolecular forces include: dipole-dipole, Van der Waals, H bond and
disulfide link

Types of proteins
1. Fibrous: structural elements such as keratin and collagen; in skin, hair and nails
• Collagen the most abundant of protein in mammals; skin bone, structure of
blood vessel and tissue
2. Globular: ECF of plants and animals; found in antibodies and hormones
3. Motor Protein: use energy and covert it to form mechanical work cell division
& muscle contraction
4. Protein Hormones: have regulatory functions ex. Insulin
5. Immune: If protein are deficient less antibodies are produced immune response
is weak
Protein Denaturation: process interrupting intermolecular forces; it is permanent
Agents that denature: heat, acid or base. Example: cooking an egg
• It is the first step for digestion
Protein digestion
• Stomach: Digestion begins; pepsinogenpepsin
• Small intestine: Majority of digestionlarge peptide  small peptide

99% of protein enters the blood stream as amino acid travel to the liver for general distribution

Summary: Protein digestion starts in the stomach; denatures protein and breaks it
down to small peptide. In the small intestine break polypeptides to smaller peptides
absorbed into cell where digestion to amino acid occurs. Cells make and secrete
protease as inactive proenzyme.

Synthesis of cells:
Anabolism: Protein are used to maintain and repair worn tissue protein
Catabolism: Worn tissue result from wear and tear
Calories needs must be met first before protein synthesis can occur
Nitrogen balances
Grams of nitrogen intake- Grams of nitrogen output=Nitrogen balances
Equilibrium occurs when nitrogen intake = nitrogen output
1. Positive Nitrogen balance
• Nitrogen intake is higher than output
• Associated to period of growth or recovering from illness
2. Negative Nitrogen Balance
• Nitrogen output is greater than intake the body loses protein
• Associated with starvation or extreme weight loss, severe illness, infection &
fever
Intake of protein:
• As growth rate slows the less need for protein.
• Infants have the highest protein needs
Intake of protein and physical stress:
Physical stress include: severe burn, infection fevers and surgery
• Severe infection can raise protein requirement by 1/3
• Severe burns 2-4 times more
• Less physical stress like fever rarely require increase of protein
Signs of Protein deficiency:
• Weight loss
• Skin from soft to dry and scaly
• Less resistance to infection
• Impaired healing
• Edema
Edema
Blood protein is low oncotic pressure of the protein that pulls fluid back into circulation
is not as strong as the osmotic pressure pushing it out results in accumulation of fluid
in the tissue that leads to edema.
Treatment: Need to correct protein re-balance and dehydration
Sickle cell anemia misplaced amino acid

Protein Quality
1. Complete Proteins: Provides all the essential amino acids found in animal foods
and soybean
2. Incomplete Protein: Plant protein; does not have enough lysine and trytophan
• Partially incomplete protein sustain life but does not support growth; limiting
amino acid
• Totally incomplete protein: lacks an essential amino acid and does not support
life or growth. Ex. Corn or gelatin
3. Complementary Protein: Protein in one plant combined with another plant
completes amino acid pattern. Example: Combine grains with legumes allows a
complete protein
Note
• Small amount of animal protein can complement protein in plants
• Children must be given complementary proteins in the same meal to complete
protein unlike adults.
Vegetarian Diets
1. Lacto-ovo: (Most common): consume eggs, dairy products and plant food. Fat in
dairy must be limited.
2. Lacto: consume dairy products and plant food
3. Ovo: consume eggs and plant foods
4. Semi-vegetarian: consume dairy, eggs, chicken, fish and plants
• Mediterranean diet is a semi vegetarian diet: rich in grains, pasta,
vegetables and small amounts of chicken and fish
5. Pesco: consume dairy, eggs, fish and plant foods
6. Vegan: Consumes plant food only
7. Fruitarian: Consumes raw fruit, nut and green foliage
Note: People become vegetarian due to religion, belief of healthier diet, reduce world
hunger, dislike eating other living beings and animal cruelty

Health Problems of Vegetarian Diets

Overall: May not provide sufficient calories usually low iron and zinc intake during 5
periods of growth:
1. Infancy: The greatest period of growth
2. Childhood
3. Adolescent
4. Pregnancy
5. Lactation

• Lacto-ovo: May be high in fat & cholesterol, low in iron due to excess milk
o Add Vit C to plant food intake to increase iron absorption; orange in salad
• Vegan: Low zinc, calcium, Vit D, B2, B12 best in animal foods
o High intake of phytates leads to poor mineral absorption
o Need to add B12 supplement

Health Benefits of Vegetarian Diets

• Less cholesterol, fat and saturated fat
• Rich in magnesium, folate, fiber and phytochemicals
• Lower cholesterol level, heart disease risk and diabetes
• Better weight control
• Less frequency of high blood pressure
• Decrease gallstones
• Decrease constipation
• Lowers cancer rates (colon, breast, prostate and uterus); plant foods increase
anticancer enzyme (cabbage, broccoli, spinach, citrus, beans)
Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM): a deficiency of protein, energy or both is the
world’s main form of malnutrition.
• PEM is most common during childhood when protein is needed to support rapid
growth
• Diets adequate in energy is usually adequate in protein

Severe PEM
1. Kwashiorkor: Acute PEM (rapid)
2. Marasmus: Chronic PEM (overtime)
Note: Infections or toxins may trigger Kwashiorkor more than Marasmus

Kwashiorkor:
• Occurs in the baby who is first breastfed and stop when 2nd baby is born and given
watered down diet instead
• In toddlers; not as severe as Marasmus
• Apathy body reduces any protein use
Symptoms of Kwashiorkor:
• Digestive enzymes are limited GI lining deteriorates and absorption fails
• Edema: lack of blood protein reduces the force that keeps fluid in the blood
stream fluid leaks out of tissue into belly and legs
• Dry skin; loss of color
• Open sores that do not heal
• Dry brittle unnatural blond hair protein pigment gives hair the color
• Stunted weight and growth
• Dysentery infection of GI tract causes diarrhea

Marasmus:
• Develops slowly; there is a deficiency in all nutrients
• In infants and children 6-18 months fed watered down formula
• Hair is spares and falls out
• Metabolism slows and temperature decreases due to conservation of energy
• Child looks like a wrinkled elderly person
• Can result in stunt brain development and learning disability
• Also in adults with cancer or anorexics

Complications of Marasmus
Infection, dehydration Circulation disorder; can cause high morality rate

Treatment for PEM

Gradual and careful refeeding to correct imbalances too fast and may cause
shock heart attack