MACRONUTRIENTS

PROTEINS
PROTEIN
• Found in both animal and plant foods
• Proteins can be classified as complete or incomplete
• 15-25% of total daily kJ consumption should be protein
• Protein supplies 16.7kJ/g of energy
PROTEIN STRUCTURE

• Proteins are made up of the atoms carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N)
• These atoms arrange as molecules called amino acids; there are 20 different amino acids which
bind in different combinations to form different proteins
 PROTEIN STRUCTURE
• Amino acids consist of a central carbon surrounded by 4 groups: a hydrogen, a carboxyl group
(COOH), and amino group (NH2) and a unique side chain (represented as ‘R’).
ESSENTIAL VS NON ESSENTIAL AMINO
ACIDS
• essential amino acid
 cannot be synthesised by the body; must be consumed

• non-essential amino acid

 can be synthesised by the body
BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF PROTEINS

• Biological value
A measure of the quality of the protein
Expressed as a percentage and indicates the amount of essential
amino acid a protein contains
 TYPES OF PROTEIN
• There are 2 types of proteins:
(1) Complete proteins
• Contain all the essential amino acids.
• Said to have a high biological value (HBV)
• Found in animal products (e.g. meat, eggs, dairy); exceptions are soy, quinoa
and buckwheat

(2) Incomplete proteins

• Proteins that lack one or more of the essential amino acids.
• These proteins are low biological value (LBV) proteins
• Are obtained from plant sources
• All of the essential amino acids can be supplied from incomplete proteins if
complementary proteins are eaten.
 COMPLIMENTARY PROTEINS
Complementary Proteins
Two or more incomplete proteins can be
eaten in the same meal to provide all of
the essential amino acids.
This is important when a person is
following a vegetarian diet (especially
vegans who eat no animal products at all).
Complementary proteins are easily
selected if the food sources are selected
from different plant groups.
Eg. baked beans on toast or nachos (corn
and beans)
VEGETARIAN DIETS
VEGETARIAN
DIETS
NOVEL PROTEINS
• Novel (new or unusual) proteins are
proteins that are sustainably sourced
from organisms such as insects, algae
and other single celled organisms.
FUNCTIONS OF PROTEINS
• Structural- growth and repair of tissues (eg
skin and nails)
• Growth, maintenance and repair of every
cell in the body
• Production of enzymes, hormones and genes
• A secondary source of energy if there is
insufficient carbohydrate and fat in the diet –
when carbohydrates and fat are insufficient in
the diet, protein can be utilised to supply
16.7kJ/g of energy
PROTEIN DEFICIENCY

• Because protein cannot be stored in the body, it must be supplied on a

daily basis through our diet
• Vegans (vegetarians who consume no animal products) are at an
increased risk of protein deficiency if they don’t eat a variety of
complementary proteins
PROTEIN DEFICIENCY

• Consequences of protein deficiency relate to the functions of proteins:

(1) Proteins form muscle cells; therefore with a deficiency, what
consequence would you expect?
 → muscle wasting and shrinkage
PROTEIN DEFICIENCY

(2) Protein is required for growth; therefore with a

deficiency, what consequence would you
expect?
 slow or stunted growth
PROTEIN EXCESS
• If excess protein is consumed, the extra amino acids cannot be stored as
protein, it must be broken down and converted into other useable molecules
by the liver:

(1) The liver strips the nitrogen from amino acids and converts it into
ammonia, a waste excreted by the kidneys

• (2) The ‘non-nitrogen’ parts of the amino acid are converted into
carbohydrates or fat
 PROTEIN EXCESS
In a normal healthy individual, the
liver and kidney can cope with the
extra breakdown of amino acids
(from excess protein); however,
with continual and prolonged
overconsumption of proteins, or
with partial damage already
occurring for other reasons such as
genetics, diabetes or alcohol abuse,
kidney and liver disease can result
 PROTEIN EXCESS
Some further consequences that can occur are:
(1) dehydration → the by-product of amino acid breakdown in the
liver, ammonia, becomes a part of urea;
→ excess protein = increased ammonia = increased urea =
increased urination;
→ water is required to remove wastes; therefore increased urination
= increased water loss = dehydration

(2) weight gain → the ‘non-nitrogen’ part of the amino acids

are converted into carbohydrates or fat
→ excess protein = excess amino acids = excess carbohydrates
and fats
→ excess carbohydrates and fats are stored as adipose tissue/fat
= weight gain