Protein (Module 8) Flashcards
What is a limiting protein?
The amino acid that a food is missing that makes it incomplete
What is amino acid scoring?
How many of the nine essential acids a food has and how much of each of those it has.
Digestibility of Animal protein
90% - 99%
Digestibility of Plant Protein
70% - 90%
But Over 90% for Soy
What does amino acid scoring not address
digestibility
what is the only plant product that is considered a plant protein
Soy
Nitrogen Balance is tested by
Measuring protein (and therefore nitrogen) going in and coming out (urea)
if Nitrogen balance is equal
you are in protein balance
if Nitrogen balance is Positive
More coming in than going out. (babies toddlers, people who are growing, AND PREGNANT WOMEN)
if Nitrogen balance is negative
More going out than going in than coming out. (starvation, healing, injured person, anything that causes people to break down protein for energy or tissue replacement
why can’t you make cause and effect conclusions about vegetarian vs meat eating.
because they are epidemiological and therefore observational
when people get symptoms of early kidney disease, should protein intake be increased or decreased?
Decreased.
Why are food alleges becoming so commonly misdiagnosed?
simple blood tests are the most common way to test for them but they are very inaccurate
What are the functional roles of protein in the body
maintaining fluid balance, pH regulation, Blood clots, enzymes, antibodies, mucus (infection protection), insulin
What are the building blocks of protein?
Amino Acids
How can proteins be tracked in the body?
By tracking nitrogen
What is a conditionally essential amino acid?
A non-essential amino acid that becomes essential when the body is not getting the necessary nutrients to make it.
What changes an amino acid’s primary structure in the stomach?
nothing, HCL denatures it.
Where is most protein digested and absorbed?
in the small intestines (broken down by intestinal and pancreatic peptidases
what kind of bond joins amino acids to form dipeptides
peptide bonds
What is makes protein unique compared to carbs and fats?
it contains nitrogen as well as the usual C, H, and O
What is transamination
Transfer of an amine group (the nitrogen-containing part) from one molecule to another to make a non-essential amino acid
What is protein turnover?
the constant synthesis and breakdown of proteins to ensure they are replaces frequently (like skin cells)
How do we measure protein turnover?
Nitrogen balance tests
What determines th shape and function of amino acids?
the order of the amino acid chain determines shape, the shape determines function
What is a complementary protein?
Foods that, alone may not be complete but combined with other incomplete proteins can provide all the essential amino acids
