Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 16 : Proteins

Introduction

The name” protein” was suggested by Mulder in that 1838 to the complex organic nitrogenous substances found in animal and plant tissues proteins play an important role in many biochemical, biophysical and physiological processes in the body. Proteins constitute 20 percent of body weight. They perform a wide variety of functions throughout the body as vital components of body tissues, enzymes and immune cells.

Proteins are complex molecules comprised of a combination of different amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins that contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur and some also contain phosphorus. Amino acids link together in specific numbers and unique combinations to make individual proteins. The nitrogen content of any protein is about 16%.