Metabolism on-line - the virtual tutorial room
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Why does an adult require so much protein in the diet?
Objectives
At the end of the session you should be able to:
Explain what is meant by nitrogen balance and the conditions under which balance may be negative or positive
Explain how studies of nitrogen balance can be used to estimate protein requirements
Explain what is meant by the half-life of a protein, and why different proteins have very different rates of turnover
Explain what is means by essential and non-essential amino acids, and describe how requirements for essential amino acids can be determined
Describe and explain the cycling between positive nitrogen balance in the fed state and negative nitrogen balance in the fasting state
Explain why an adult has a continual need for a dietary intake of protein
Explain how a high-protein diet may be beneficial for weight reduction