PROTEIN

 originated from a Greek word proteios meaning “to hold first place” or “is of prime
importance”
 every life process depends on proteins (e.g. enzymes, hormones, muscle cells, blood cells,
antibodies etc.)
 consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, occasionally other elements like copper,
phosphorous, iron, and sulfur are present
 building blocks of proteins: amino acids
 22 amino acids
 GENERAL FUNCTION OF
PROTEINS
 Build and repair cells and tissues (Body-building and structural role)
 Integral part of cell nuclei and cytoplasm
 Solid mass of soft tissues (vital organs, blood cells and muscles)
 Skeletal system, hairs, nails and skin
 All enzymes are protein and only some hormones are protein
 All body fluids and secretions have protein, except bile
 Antibodies contain protein
GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF
PROTEINS
 Source of energy
 1 gm. of protein supplies 4 kcal.
 10-15% of total caloric needs should come from protein

 Regulates body processes

 Regulates osmotic pressure
 Transports substances around the body (lipids, vitamins, minerals and oxygen).
CLASSIFICATION OF AMINO
ACIDS
 1. ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID (EAA) or INDISPENSABLE AMINO ACID
 2. SEMI-ESSENTIAL or SEMI INDISPENSABLE AMINO ACID
 3. NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID (NEAA) or DISPENSABLE AMINO ACID
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
 Cannot be synthesized by the body
 Dietary essentials
 9 essential amino acids for an adult
 10 for a growing child
ROLES OF ESSENTIAL AMINO
ACIDS
1. Valine: helps stimulate muscle growth and regeneration
2. Theonine: forms collagen and elastin, fat metabolism, and immune function
3. Tryptophan: proper nitrogen balance, precursor to serotonin which regulates appetite,
sleep, and mood
4. Methionine: metabolism and detoxification, tissue growth, absorption of zinc and selenium
5. Leucine: protein synthesis and muscle repair, blood sugar regulation, stimulates wound
healing and growth hormones
6. Isoleucine: muscle metabolism, immune function, hemoglobin production, energy
regulation
ROLES OF ESSENTIAL AMINO
ACIDS
7. Lysine: protein synthesis, hormone and enzyme production, absorption of calcium, energy
production, immune function, production of collagen and elastin
8. Histidine: used to produce histamine which is vital to immune response, digestion, sexual
function, and sleep-wake cycles; maintenance of myelin sheath
9. Phenylalanine: precursor for neurotransmitters tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine, and
norepinephrine; vital in the production of other amino acids, vital in the structure of
proteins and enzymes
10. Arginine: vital in cell division, wound healing, ammonia excretion, immune function,
release of hormones, precursor of nitric oxide which is vital to blood pressure regulation
SEMI-ESSENTIAL AMINO
ACIDS
 reduces the need for a particular essential amino acid or partially spares it
 cannot completely replace the essential amino acid
 an amino acid that can maintain the life processes for an adult but not enough for normal
growth in children
 Formed in the body but not in sufficient amounts for growing children

1. Arginine*
2. Tyrosine
3. Serine
4. Cysteine
5. Glycine
NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID
 not a dietary essential
 can be synthesized by the body as long as the materials for synthesis are adequate
TYPES OF PROTEINS
 Complete Proteins
 Contains all the essential amino acids in
amounts sufficient for growth and
maintenance of life
 Animal proteins are complete proteins and
have high biological value
TYPES OF PROTEINS
 Partially Complete Proteins
 can maintain life but do not support growth
TYPES OF PROTEINS
 Incomplete Proteins
 cannot support life and growth
 Example: corn, gelatin and most plant
proteins
WAYS OF IMPROVING
PROTEIN QUALITY
 Fortification – refers to the addition of amino acids in desirable levels so that food contains
more than what originally exists
 Enrichment – to restore what was lost during the milling process by adding amino acid
according to Food and Drugs standards
 Supplementation – refers to the addition of protein rich foods to regular diet so as to increase
total protein content and improve its standards
 Complementation – refers to the combination of food proteins such that one lacking in an
essential amino acid is provided by another rich in that amino acid
PROTEIN-ENERGY
UNDERNUTRITION (PEU)
 Previously known as Protein-Energy
Malnutrition (PUM)
 Energy deficit due to deficiency of
all macronutrients
 Can be sudden, total, or gradual
CLASSIFICATION AND
ETIOLOGY
 Primary PEU
 Caused by inadequate nutrient intake
 Occurs mostly in children and older people
who lack access to nutrients
 In the elderly can be caused as a result of
depression or fasting
 In children Primary PEU has 2 common
forms:
 Marasmus
 Kwashiorkor
CLASSIFICATION AND
ETIOLOGY
 Secondary PEU
 results from disorders or drugs that interfere with nutrient use
 Disorders that affect gastrointestinal function
 pancreatic insufficiency
 enteritis

 Wasting disorders
 AIDS
 cancer

 Conditions that increase metabolic demands

 Hyperthyroidism
 surgery
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 Moderate PEU
 Apathy and irritability
 Weakness
 Diarrhea
 Amenorrhea
 Loss of libido
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 Moderate PEU
 Wasting of fat and muscle in all forms
 Severe weight loss
 Thin, dry, inelastic, pale, and cold skin
 Sparse hair
 Impaired wound healing
 Pressure ulcers
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
 Acute or Chronic PEU
 Heart size and cardiac output decreases
 Bradycardia and hypotension
 Bradypnea and decreased lung capacity
 Hypothermia
 Edema
 Anemia
 Jaundice
 Liver, kidney, or heart failure
 Death
MARASMUS
 Called the dry form of PEU
 Causes weight loss and depletion of fat and muscle
 Most common form of PEU in children in developing countries
 Signs and symptoms:
 Hunger
 Weight loss
 Growth retardation
 Muscle wasting
 Loose thin skin, hangs in folds\
 Ribs and facial bones appear prominent
KWASHIORKOR
 Called wet, swollen, edematous PEU
 May result from an acute illness such as gastroenteritis

 Caused by deficiency of protein in the diet but adequate

energy is received
 Less common
 Cell membranes leak causing extravasation of
intravascular fluid and protein resulting in peripheral
edema
KWASHIORKOR
 Signs and symptoms
 Peripheral and periorbital edema
 Protruding abdomen
 Distended intestines
 Liver enlargement
 Ascites
 Dry, thin, wrinkled skin
 Thin, reddish, brown or gray hair
 Sparse scalp hair but excessive eyelash growth
RISK FACTOR IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PEU
Biological Factors
 Low birth weight
 Twin birth or multiple births
 Order of birth
 Poor birth spacing
 Age of mother (<20 years or >35 years)
 Family size (Larger the family size, more the risk)
 Female child
RISK FACTOR IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PEU
Sociocultural factors
 Inappropriate infant and young-child feeding
 Illiteracy
 Poverty
 Ignorance
 Single parent family
 Bad environmental condition
 Recurrent infection.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT
PROTEIN REQUIREMENT
 Body size
 Effect of Growth
 Infants: 1.5 to 2.2 g/kg body weight
 Children: 1.6 – 2.0 g/kg
 Early adolescents: about 1.5 g/kg.
 Older teenagers: 1.25 g/kg
 Adults:1.14 g/kg
FACTORS THAT AFFECT
PROTEIN REQUIREMENT
 Effect of Pregnancy and Lactation
 As much as 15 g of protein secreted daily in breast milk
 Pregnancy: +8 g
 Lactation: + 18-23 g

 
 Effect of Aging
 Increased due to decreased nutrient utilization
FACTORS THAT AFFECT
PROTEIN REQUIREMENT
 State of Health
 Increased: fevers, burns, surgery, hyperthyroidism, convalescence and wound healing
 Decreased: end stage renal disease

 
 Effect of Physical Activity
 Increased when aim is to build muscles
 Exercise and physical activity does not require additional protein

 
FACTORS THAT AFFECT
PROTEIN REQUIREMENT
 Quality of Proteins
 Meat sources: high quality protein
 Plant sources: lower quality

 
 Adequacy of Calories
 Carbohydrates and fats should be main sources of energy
 Proteins should be able to perform primary function: building and repairing
 Extra proteins may be used as energy