Protein

Within our bodies, proteins are used as muscle fibres, messengers, digestive enzymes, genome scaffolding, bones, tendons, and general cellular building material (Alberts et al. 2015 a, b, and c, and Brun et al. 2020). Proteins are remarkable due to the diversity of their component – the amino acids. Different proteins are defined by the difference in amino acid sequence and length. Of these amino acids, there are 20, which are considered 'canonical'. The sequence and length of the amino acids in the protein directly determine the folding and function of the protein, so that the same basic building blocks can fulfil the diverse functions listed above.

In our nutrition we find amino acids both in animal and plant product, thought they exhibit tendentially better bioavailability – and without fail better composition – in animals over plants (Berrazaga et al. 2019 and Lim et al. 2021).

The importance of this only becomes apparent, when we understand that we need to consume a certain amount of general protein and essential amino acids to sustain proper bodily function.

Essential amino acids are those amino acids, which we can't produce ourselves and need to consume with our food. If we don't get enough of these essential amino acids, our health suffers. Also the amount of general protein, though, is important for our health. All amino acids contain a constituent (amine group), which we can only get by consuming amino acids. We can transform one inessential amino acid into another, but we can't make them from other nutrients.

Getting enough high-quality protein is thus centrally important for our health. This is achieved best and easiest – as stated above – by consuming animal proteins.

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Walter, P. (2015). DNA, Chromosomes, and Genomes. In Molecular Biology of the Cell, (Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC), pp. 172-236.

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Walter, P. (2015). Cell Signaling. In Molecular Biology of the Cell, (Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC), pp. 813-888.

Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K., and Walter, P. (2015). The Cytoskeleton. In Molecular Biology of the Cell, (Garland Science, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC), pp. 889-962.

Berrazaga, I., Micard, V., Gueugneau, M., and Walrand, S. (2019). The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant- versus Animal-Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review. Nutrients 11. 10.3390/nu11081825.

Brun, A., Mendez-Aranda, D., Magallanes, M.E., Karasov, W.H., Martinez del Rio, C., Baldwin, M.W., and Caviedes-Vidal, E. (2020). Duplications and functional convergence of intestinal carbohydrate-digesting enzymes. Molecular biology and evolution.

Lim, M.T., Pan, B.J., Toh, D.W.K., Sutanto, C.N., and Kim, J.E. (2021). Animal Protein versus Plant Protein in Supporting Lean Mass and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients 13. 10.3390/nu13020661.