Complete protein

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A complete protein or whole protein is a food source of protein that contains an adequate proportion of each of the nine essential amino acids necessary in the human diet. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Amino acid profile

People who eat a varied diet generally do not have to consider the completeness of proteins of single foods. Different protein sources that are each incomplete on their own, typically are complete when combined. [6]

The following table lists the optimal profile of the nine essential amino acids in the human diet, which comprises complete protein, as recommended by the US Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board. The foodstuffs listed for comparison show the essential amino acid content per unit of the total protein of the food, 100g of spinach, for example, only contains 2.9g of protein (6% Daily Value), and of that protein 1.36% is tryptophan. [2] [7] (note that the examples have not been corrected for digestibility)

Essential amino acidmg/g of proteinpercentage of total proteinraw, whole chicken egg [8] quinoa [9] raw spinach [10]
Tryptophan 70.7%1.33%1%1.36%
Threonine 272.7%4.42%3.2%4.27%
Isoleucine 252.5%5.34%4.2%5.14%
Leucine 555.5%8.65%7.3%7.8%
Lysine 515.1%7.27%6.1%6.08%
Methionine+Cystine 252.5%5.18%2.7%+1.3%1.85%+1.22%
Phenylalanine+Tyrosine 474.7%9.39%4.3%+3.6%4.51%+3.78%
Valine 323.2%6.83%5%5.63%
Histidine 181.8%2.45%3.1%2.24%
Total28728.7%50.86%41.8%43.88%

Total adult daily intake

The second column in the following table shows the amino acid requirements of adults as recommended by the World Health Organization [11] calculated for a 62 kg (137 lb) adult. Recommended Daily Intake is based on 2,000 kilocalories (8,400 kJ) per day, [12] which could be appropriate for a 70 kg (150 lb) adult.

Essential amino acidRequired mg/day for a 62 kg (137 lb) adult
Tryptophan 248
Threonine 930
Isoleucine 1240
Leucine 2418
Lysine 1860
Methionine+Cystine 930
Phenylalanine+Tyrosine 1550
Valine 1612
Histidine 620
Total11,408 milligrams (11.408 g)
Total Protein 46 to 56 grams (46,000 to 56,000 mg)

Concept

In a plant-based diet there is the perceived issue of amino acid content of various individual foods. A satisfying diet however, will include minimum requirements of all essential amino acids.

In addition to grains, such as corn, rice, or wheat, vegetable protein also occurs in legumes, which include beans and peanuts. Grains tend to be deficient in tryptophan and lysine, whereas legumes lack methionine Thus a meal combining grains and legumes such as the Mexican peasant dish of corn tortillas and refried beans is basically complete in amino acid content.

Stanley E. Manahan, General Applied Chemistry 1978,82 , page 474

See also

Related Research Articles

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Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an organic compound and a vitamer of vitamin B3, an essential human nutrient. It is produced by plants and animals from the amino acid tryptophan. Niacin is obtained in the diet from a variety of whole and processed foods, with highest contents in fortified packaged foods, meat, poultry, red fish such as tuna and salmon, lesser amounts in nuts, legumes and seeds. Niacin as a dietary supplement is used to treat pellagra, a disease caused by niacin deficiency. Signs and symptoms of pellagra include skin and mouth lesions, anemia, headaches, and tiredness. Many countries mandate its addition to wheat flour or other food grains, thereby reducing the risk of pellagra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chickpea</span> Species of flowering plant with edible seeds in the family Fabaceae

The chickpea or chick pea is an annual legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae, cultivated for its edible seeds. Its different types are variously known as gram or Bengal gram; chhola, chhana, chana, or channa; garbanzo or garbanzo bean; or Egyptian pea. It is one of the earliest cultivated legumes, the oldest archaeological evidence of which was found in Syria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dietary fiber</span> Portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely digested

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A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons. Some nutrients can be metabolically converted into smaller molecules in the process of releasing energy such as for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and fermentation products leading to end-products of water and carbon dioxide. All organisms require water. Essential nutrients for animals are the energy sources, some of the amino acids that are combined to create proteins, a subset of fatty acids, vitamins and certain minerals. Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves. Fungi live on dead or living organic matter and meet nutrient needs from their host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human nutrition</span> Nutrients supporting human health

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protein (nutrient)</span> Nutrient for the human body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegetarian Diet Pyramid</span> Nutrition guide for a healthy vegetarian diet

Vegetarian Diet Pyramid is a nutrition guide that represents a traditional healthy vegetarian diet. Variations of this traditional healthy vegetarian diet exist throughout the world, particularly in parts of North America, Europe, South America and, most notably, Asia. Given these carefully defined parameters, the phrase "Traditional Vegetarian Diet" is used here to represent the healthy traditional ovo-lacto vegetarian diets of these regions and peoples. A pyramid was created by Oldways Preservation Trust in 1998 with scientific research from Cornell and Harvard University and specific reference to the healthy patterns of eating demonstrated by the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vegan nutrition</span> Nutritional and human health aspects of vegan diets

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amino acid score</span> Method used to determine if a protein is complete

Amino acid score, in combination with protein digestibility, is the method used to determine if a protein is complete.

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Vitamin B3, colloquially referred to as niacin, is a vitamin family that includes three forms, or vitamers: niacin (nicotinic acid), nicotinamide (niacinamide), and nicotinamide riboside. All three forms of vitamin B3 are converted within the body to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is required for human life and people are unable to make it within their bodies without either vitamin B3 or tryptophan. Nicotinamide riboside was identified as a form of vitamin B3 in 2004.

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Essential amino acids(EAAs) are amino acids that are necessary to build proteins in an organism. The source of complete EAAs are both animal and plant-based food.

References

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