MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Re: How many essential amino acids can only be obtained from meat?

Date: Thu Mar 15 17:10:28 2001
Posted By: Mary Hadley, Faculty, Food and Nutrition, North Dakota State University
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 984457429.Bc
Message:

There are no essential amino acids that are only found in meat. This is a 
common misconception. 
 WHowever meat usually contains all the essential amino acids in substantial 
amounts i.e. they are complete proteins. Incomplete proteins are proteins 
that have one or more essential amino acids present in very low 
concentration so we have to find another source of those. Examples
All the essential amino acids can be found in plants but not all plants have 
all the essentials. So we would may be have to eat two different plants to 
get all the essential amino acids while only one type meat will fill the 
bill.
Legumes have lots of isoleucine and lysine but little methionine and 
tryptophan. Grains have lots of methionine and tryptophan a little 
isoleucine and lysine. So to get enough of  all the essentials one would 
need to eat both legumes and grains. They are called complementary proteins.
Vegetarians need to worry more about getting enough calcium and vitamin B12.
I hope this helps. 



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