Biochemistry Discussion - Fats and Proteins - Assignment Example

BIOCHEMISTRY DISCUSSIONQuestion 1The brain’s primary food source during starvation is glycogen reserves (originating from glucose), which are located in the liver and muscle are the first source, but after a long period of starvation, the body starts using the fat reserves (i.e., triglycerides) located in the adipose tissue.Fats mainly contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes other types of molecules leading to the existence of three types of fats. These include glycerides, the form in which the body stores fat for fuel reserves; sterols, and phospholipids, which contain phosphates.

Fats can be broken down to yield energy by lipolysis, after which beta oxidation takes place in the mitochondria to give acetyl CoA that continues to the Krebs cycle yielding ATP, water, and carbon dioxide. Ketosis happens in extended starvation when large amounts of fat are broken down for energy instead of carbohydrates. This is because the rate of ketone formation surpasses the ability of the liver to oxidize them. The three types of ketone bodies that arise from acetyl CoA are acetoacetate, acetone, and beta-hydroxybutyrate (Butterly & Shepherd, 2010).

The brain uses these ketone bodies for energy during starvation. Under normal conditions, the liver usually uses ketone bodies in the synthesis of lipids through the process of lipogenesis. Too much ketone bodies circulating in the body causes ketoacidosis, a state that lowers the pH of blood to harmful levels, which may interfere with the physiology of other processes.Question 2Proteins are essential components in the body because they serve numerous structural and functional purposes. Some proteins function in body movement and others function in protection against germs (antibodies).

Biological processes are catalyzed by enzymes, which are protein in nature. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is the least amount of nutrients needed to meet the daily nutrient needs of an individual. However, the RDA for protein “is calculated on an average person’s ideal weight because protein is needed mainly for lean body tissue, not fat” (Protein, n.d.). This is about 0.8 grams of proteins per kilogram of body weight. For normal males between the age of 14 and 18, this value is 52 grams whereas the value changes to 56 grams for people above the age of 18.

For females, it is 46 grams for everybody above the age of 14 (Protein, n.d.).Protein supplements are, therefore, necessary only for underweight people and lactating females because there are some non-essential amino acids that the body needs, but does not biosynthesize (Protein, (n.d.). An individual on dialysis needs supplements because the body looses so many proteins during dialysis. However, a person who is not on dialysis does not need protein supplements. An obese individual needs protein supplements to help in building lean muscle as opposed to fat.

However, this ought to be calculated as a fraction of the desired body weight. An average individual does not also need protein supplements. This is because excessive proteins cause dehydration since water is needed to break down and eliminate the excessive proteins. A professional weight lifter needs more carbohydrates as opposed to excess proteins if his dietary intake is within the set RDA values (56 grams).ReferencesButterly, J. R. & Shepherd, J. (2010). Hunger: the biology and politics of starvation.

Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England.Proteins. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dietpower.com/help/diet/protein_1.htm.