Food Chemistry and Fish in Nutrition ( 2+1)

8.2.1.Introduction

Amino acids can undergo degradation in three different circumstances.

1. During the normal dynamic turn over of body proteins the amino acids released, if not needed for synthesis of new body proteins, may undergo oxidative degradation.
2. When amino acids are ingested in excess of the body’s needs for protein synthesis, the surplus may be catabolised, since amino acids cannot be stored.
3. During fasting or in diabetes mellitus, when cafbohydrates are either unavailable or not properly utilized, body proteins are used as fuel. During this amino acids undergo oxidation to carbon dioxide and water, in part via citric acid cycle.