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fredreload
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I got a question, consuming amino acid and consuming protein is the same thing right? Protein is a chain of amino acids but it does not really change their properties by becoming protein right?
Hi epenguin,epenguin said:But the question was about consuming them. You eat proteins, but by the time have passed to they have been broken down (I.e. hydrolysed by 'proteolytic' enzymes) to amino acids. Then your own proteins are built from these. So to a first approximation you could survive by consuming amino acids and no proteins.
Whether it would do you good, e.g. because of effects on gut bacteria and the digestion of other things and other unforeseebles is another matter. We do not advise on medical questions here.
Hmm, epenguin might have a point here in saying that only amino acids are required. Well the point is that not all protein are enzymes. And out of all the proteins that we consume from fish, egg, milk, I am not sure if any of them act as enzymes. So the point is, if any protein we eat acts as an enzyme and it is essential then we cannot survive based on amino acids alone. Otherwise our body can make its own enzymes and all we need are essential amino acids. Nothing medical here, just scientific ideas, please don't ban me D:jim mcnamara said:Let's look at it this way. Take chicken soup for an example.
Please do not take this as advice to eat raw meat, but it should be obvious that raw chicken meat does not taste the same as cooked meat in soup - for a lot of reasons.
One reason is that a fraction of proteins are hydrolyzed during cooking - broken down into polypeptides and into some single amino acids. Polypeptides are short chains of amino acids. So in a sense every time you have chicken soup you are consuming some amino acids.
Food intolerance and allergenic responses are a lot more complex. And @Buzz Bloom is correct in saying that by consuming protein as straight amino acids things may change. But not necessarily for the worse.
Some infant formulas (EHF's) are made from extensively hydrolyzed cow's milk proteins. Note this means lots of different polypeptides. This paper cites using pure amino acid mixtures in lieu of EHF for EHF sensitive infants. The take away is that the immune system does not see the amino acids as allergenic, but does react to a few of the huge panoply of polypeptides present in EHFs.
(abstract only behind a paywall ) http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347697701045?np=y
This is in counterpoint to what @Buzz Bloom was mentioning. IMO, it is possible to have adverse effects from changing diet, yes. It is something to expect? probably no.
Plus, so-called branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine) are routinely used as a supplement by weight lifters and some endurance athletes.
There are data to support this application:
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/1/269S.short
http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2006/08000/The_Effects_of_Protein_and_Amino_Acid.28.aspx
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/322/art%253A10.1186%252F1550-2783-9-20.pdf?originUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fjissn.biomedcentral.com%2Farticle%2F10.1186%2F1550-2783-9-20&token2=exp=1460469593~acl=%2Fstatic%2Fpdf%2F322%2Fart%25253A10.1186%25252F1550-2783-9-20.pdf*~hmac=e8c4ad9bced2d6f81a4105accead693a6f7518406c19495a1393656ad79e76e7
However let's not go off on the whole supplement thing. Please.
Hi Fred:fredreload said:So the point is, if any protein we eat acts as an enzyme and it is essential then we cannot survive based on amino acids alone.
Right the PH in the stomach would break it, points taken...Buzz Bloom said:Hi Fred:
I think you have a misunderstanding about the digestion of proteins. The digestive process always breaks down proteins into amino acids. It is impossible to get useful enzymes into the blood by eating them. That is why insulin in injected.
Regards,
Buzz
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are small molecules that contain a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain. Proteins, on the other hand, are large molecules made up of long chains of amino acids. They have complex three-dimensional structures and perform various functions in the body.
There are 20 standard amino acids that are commonly found in proteins. These include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. However, there are also non-standard amino acids that can be incorporated into proteins under certain conditions.
Yes, most organisms have the ability to synthesize some or all of the 20 standard amino acids. These are known as non-essential amino acids. However, there are also essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
Amino acids have several important roles in the body. They are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of cells and tissues. Amino acids also play a crucial role in various biological processes, such as metabolism, cell signaling, and immune response. Additionally, some amino acids can be converted into neurotransmitters, hormones, and other important molecules.
If we don't consume enough protein, our body may not have enough amino acids to build and maintain important structures and carry out essential functions. This can lead to a variety of health problems, including muscle wasting, impaired immune function, and slowed growth and development. It is important to consume enough protein from a variety of sources to ensure adequate intake of all essential amino acids.