Unit 4 - Protein Flashcards
What are proteins made up of?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
How many amino acids can the body produce?
11, so 9 are essential
What are conditionally essential amino acids?
Amino acids that are normally nonessential but must be supplied by the diet in special circumstances when the need for it becomes greater than the body’s ability to produce it
Why do proteins have different shapes?
It enables them to perform different tasks in the body
How do the mouth and salivary glands aid in protein digestion?
Chewing and crushing moisten protein-rich foods and mix them w/ saliva to be swallowed
How does the stomach aid in protein digestion?
HCl uncoils protein strands and activates stomach enzymes
How do the small intestine and pancreas aid in protein digestion?
Pancreatic and small intestinal enzymes split polypeptides further, then enzymes on the surface of the small intestinal cells hydrolyze these peptides and the cells absorb them
What is protein turnover?
Within each cell, proteins are continually being made and broken down
What happens when proteins are broken down?
- Their amino acids are liberated w/in the cells or released into the bloodstream
- Some amino acids are promptly recycled into other proteins, while others are striped of their nitrogen and used for energy
What are nitrogen balance studies used for?
Estimation of protein requirements
What is nitrogen balance?
Comparing nitrogen lost through excretion with the nitrogen eaten in food
What is a positive nitrogen balance?
More protein is being built than is being broken down
Which populations will have a positive nitrogen balance?
- Growing children
- Adolescents
- Pregnant women
- People recovering from protein deficiency or illness
What is a negative protein balance?
Muscle or other protein tissue is being broken down and lost to use for energy
Which populations will have a negative nitrogen balance?
- Illness
- Injury
- Those that are starving
- Infections
- Fever
What directs the making of the body’s proteins?
The unique combination of genes
What are the major roles of protein in the body?
- Structural components
- Transporting other substances around the body
- Enzymes, hormones, and antibodies
- Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and acid-base balance
- As sources of energy and glucose
Where is the majority of the body’s protein found?
In muscle tissue
What are 2 examples of transporter proteins?
- Hemoglobin carries oxygen from lungs to cells
- Lipoproteins transport lipids in the blood
What are the 2 most important protein hormones?
Insulin and glucagon
How do proteins maintain water balance?
Since they can’t pass freely across membranes and they are attracted to water, cells that want water can manufacture proteins and the proteins can hold water
Which protein helps to prevent acid-base inbalances?
Albumin
What is the DRI for protein?
0.8g/kg of healthy body weight
What is the DRI AMDR for protein?
10-35% total energy
What are complementary proteins?
- Proteins containing all the essential amino acids in amounts sufficient to support health
- Come from at least 2 protein-rich foods that both eaten throughout the same day
What is the difference between severe acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition?
- Severe acute malnutrition is characterized by sudden inadequate food intake (ex: drought or war)
- Chronic malnutrition is long-term inadequate food intake
What is severe acute malnutrition?
When the diet delivers too little protein, too little energy, or both