Nutrition

LIU XIAOFANG

FOOD NUTRITION AND SAFETY

protein
A protein is a complex
high molecular weight organic compound
consists of amino acids
joined by peptide bonds.

Figure 2. Structures of Proteins

Take away the water

about 75 % of the weight is protein.
At least 10,000 different proteins in the body.

Proteins form the body's main structural elements

are found in every cell and tissue.
Body uses proteins for growth
and to build and repair bone, muscles, connective tissue,
skin,
internal organs and blood.
Hormones, antibodies and the enzymes are all made of protein.
Without the right proteins,
blood won't clot properly and cuts won't heal.
if carbohydrates and fat can't meet your energy needs,
proteins can be broken down and used as a source of
emergency energy.

after protein is ingested,

digestive enzymes break the protein down into amino acid
The amino acids enter the blood stream and travel to the cells
where they are incorporated into proteins the body needs.

Twenty or so basic building blocks, called amino acids, provide

the raw material for all proteins.

Function
Proteins are essential to the structure and
function of all living cells
Many proteins are enzymes or subunits of
enzymes.
Other proteins play structural or mechanical
roles, such as those that form the struts and
joints of the cytoskeleton.
Still more functions filled by proteins include
immune response and the storage and transport
of various ligands.
In nutrition, proteins serve as the source of amino
acids that do not

protein is one of the largest component of the diet.

The metabolism of proteins
releases ammonia, an extremely toxic substance.
converted in the liver into urea,
a much less toxic chemical,
which is excreted in urine.

In chemistry, an amino acid is any molecule

that contains both amino and carboxylic acid
functional groups.

Essential amino acid(EAA)

cannot be synthesized from other available resources,
and therefore must be supplied as part of the diet.
Not all amino acids need to be supplied.

8 amino acids are generally regarded as essential,

tryptophan , lysine , methionine , phenylalanine
threonine , valine , leucine , isoleucine

with two others, histidine and arginine,

essential only in children

Foodstuffs that are lacking essential amino acids are poor sources
of protein equivalents, as the body will tend to deaminate the
amino acids obtained and convert proteins into fats and
carbohydrates instead.
a balance of essential amino acids is necessary for a high degree
of net protein utilization.

In human nutritional needs,

proteins come in two forms:

complete proteins
incomplete proteins

complete proteins contain all eight of EAA

that humans cannot produce themselves,
all meat and other animal products are sources
include beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs,
milk, and milk products
incomplete proteins lack or contain only a very small
proportion of one or more EAA
Protein in foods (such as grains, fruits, and vegetables) are
either low, are considered incomplete proteins

Humans' bodies can make use of all the amino acids they
extract from food for synthesizing new proteins,
the inessential ones themselves need not be supplied by the
diet, because our cells can make them ourselves.
When protein is listed on a nutrition label it only refers to
the amount of complete proteins in the food,
though the food may be very strong in a subset of the
essential amino acids.

Animal-derived foods contain all the EAA while plants are

typically stronger in some acids than others.
limiting amino acid
the EAA found in the smallest quantity in the foodstuff.

Protein source

Limiting amino acid

wheat

lysine

rice

lysine and threonine

maize

tryptophan and lysine

pulses

methionine

beef

methionine and cysteine

whey

none

Protein deficiency can lead to symptoms

such as fatigue, insulin resistance, hair loss,
loss of hair pigment, loss of muscle mass,
low body temperature, and hormonal irregularities.
Severe protein deficiency is fatal.

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM)

contains 3 forms.
kwashiorkor (KW) , Marasmus and marasmic KW
PEM represent a group of pathologic conditions
associated with a nutritional and energy deficit
occurring mainly in young children
from developing countries at the time of weaning.
frequently associated with infections,
mainly gastrointestinal infections.

Kwashiorkor
occurs in areas of famine, limited food supply
and low levels of education lead to inadequate
knowledge of proper diet.
Early symptoms are fatigue, irritability, and lethargy.
As protein deprivation continues,
growth failure, loss of muscle mass,
generalized swelling (edema),
decreased immunity occur.
A large, protuberant belly is common.
Skin conditions (such as dermatitis,
changes in pigmentation, thinning of hair, and
vitiligo) are seen frequently.
Shock and coma precede death.

protuberant belly

loss of hair pigment

swelling (edema)

6 8
Skin pigmentation
14 , 12

Marasmus resulting from an insufficient nutritional intake

associated with acute conditions (gastroenteritis)
or chronic conditions (eg, tuberculosis, HIV infection).

Marasmus results from a negative energy balance.

a decreased energy intake
increased energy expenditure, or both,
Children adapt to an energy deficit
with a decrease in physical activity, lethargy,
a decrease in basal energy metabolism,
slowing of growth, and finally weight loss.
Pathophysiological changes associated with nutritional and
energy deficits can be described as (1) body composition
changes, (2) metabolic changes, and (3) anatomic changes.

Body composition
Body mass: Body mass is significantly decreased
Fat stores can decrease to as low as 5% of the body weight
and be macroscopically undetectable.
The remaining fat is usually stored in the liver
body water: The proportion of water increases
proportion of extracellular water also increases
resulting in edema.
protein mass can decrease up to 30%
The muscle fibers are thin , Muscle cells are atrophic

Other organ mass:

The brain, skeleton, and kidney are preserved,
whereas the liver, heart, pancreas, and digestive tract are
first affected.

This is typically a disease of impoverished countries,

because of drought or political turmoil.
Improving calorie and protein intake will correct it
treatment is not started too late.
Full height and growth potential will never be achieved in children
Severe kwashiorkor may leave a child
with permanent mental and physical disabilities.

Monkey face

Side Effects

Excess protein can cause problems as well,

such as causing the immune system to overreact,
liver dysfunction from increased toxic residues,
bone loss due to increased acidity in the blood
diet high in meat could lead to high cholesterol or
other diseases, such as gout.
Another potential problem is that may put a strain on the
kidneys.

The average person needs 50-65 grams of protein each day.

In addition to meat, poultry and fish, significant amounts of
protein are found in beans, milk, eggs, dairy foods, seeds, nuts,
grains and soy products.