Low Protein Diets
Patients with reduced kidney or liver function are required to restrict
protein, since their ability to handle the nitrogen waste of oxidized amino
acids is limited. In liver disease, reduced ability to synthesize urea leads to
ammonia accumulation. Ammonia is neurotoxic and contributes to the syndrome of
brain dysfunction in liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with
reduced kidney or liver function are required to restrict protein, since their
ability to handle the nitrogen waste of oxidized amino acids is limited.
Fluctuating levels of ammonia influences brain cell function; they should be
considered whenever brain function is abnormal. Some children are born with
metabolic abnormalities in the handling of amino acids and ammonia. They often
present with malfunctioning brains.
The use of elemental nutrient formulas is useful in reducing or eliminating
proteins from the diet. The formulas provide a precise intake of amino acids in
a well balanced mixture – impossible to achieve with food.
- Use Alpha ENF when complete meal replacement is required.
- Use DMX as a partial meal replacement when food provides sufficient calories
and fat.
- Use AAX to replace protein and supplement amino acid intake.
The substitution of pure amino acids for protein changes the intake rules. We
believe that amino acids are more efficient than food protein at maintaining a
positive nitrogen balance. Moreover, amino acids in their pure form tend to be
completely absorbed and utilized as amino acids and not lost in the feces or
burned as fuel.
The amino acid mix in Alpha ENF, PMX, DMX and AAX is a complete balanced
set of amino acids which means that “protein quality” is the highest available.
No one has accurately determined the need for high quality amino acid intake,
but our contention is that amino acid requirements may be a low as 20-50% of the
recommended protein requirement (meaning the amount of food protein in the
diet). Adequate intake of energy molecules, both carbohydrate and fats, is said to
“spare protein”, permitting a small protein intake to maintain positive nitrogen
balance. In metabolic studies, the total amount of nitrogen intake is compared
with the total excretion of nitrogen to assess protein balance. Excess amino
acids are converted to fuel.
We have thought a lot about the relationship between the food intake of protein
and the intakes of pure amino acids in one of our elemental nutrient formulas. A
naive assumption is that amino acid intake and protein intake are the same. If
you decide that a patient needs 75 Grams of protein per day and you want to
replace the protein with amino acids, you assume you have to give them 75 grams
of amino acids. Not so. If you look at RDA values for protein, you get the wrong
idea that amino acid intake level has to the same as protein intake but we
believe that a daily intake of 25 grams of free form amino acids will be
adequate for most people, most of the time. RDA protein values are crude
approximations based on food protein values. The proteins in foods have to be
digested into dipeptides and free amino acids before nutrients are available and
protein digestion is incomplete Some percentage of food protein is wasted in the
digestive tract. The trick is that if amino acids arrive in high concentrations,
the liver is obligated to destroy most of them; so that high protein intake is
wasteful if you want the amino acids to be utilized as protein building blocks
and as neurotransmitter substrates.You have to know that the body
recycles amino acids and becomes every efficient when protein intake is low; the
loss of amino acids can drop to about 2 grams per day.
You have to know that amino acid proportioning is relevant to how
amino acids are admitted to cells and how they are utilized. The concept of
protein quality is used to express the idea that all the 9 essential amino acids
have to be present before any of them can be used to make proteins. Plants may
have incomplete amino acids sets, for example, and protein deficiency symptoms
can appear even when the protein intake is adequate.
On the positive side of the equation, if a completely available, precisely
engineered amino acid set is available, the total daily requirement is lower the
RDA values for food protein intake As a rule of thumb we recommend calculating
the RDA protein requirement in Grams and supplying 30 % to 50% of that value as
Alpha AAX, a blend of amino acids (available separately in Alpha AAX or combined
with other nutrients in Alpha ENF, Alpha PMX, and Alpha DMX.)
When amino acids are “burned” as fuel, ammonia (NH3) is the waste
product. Ammonia to the liver, converted to urea and excreted by the kidneys.
One of the penalties of dietary protein excess is ammonia excess, a potential
cause of body malfunction following a high protein meal. The blood measurement
of urea nitrogen (BUN) shows the balance between urea production by the liver
and excretion by the kidneys. The BUN rises in kidney failure and serves as a
measure of ammonia or nitrogen.
Free and pure l-form amino acids are provided in Alpha AAX. All Alpha
Nutrition Formulas come in powder form to be added to juices or food, but avoid
cooking. AAX
contains a complete set of the nine essential amino acids, complemented by 10 of
the non-essential amino acids. Amino acids are the real nutrients derived from
proteins by digestion of food. Amino acids do not trigger immune responses. Free
amino acids are much more expensive than protein powders, and hydrolyzed
proteins but freeing the immune system from protein challenge is well-worth the
cost.
Some of these amino acids are not destined to be included in body proteins
but will be used as neurotransmitters. Tyrosine and phenylalanine, for example,
are converted to dopamine, noradrenalin and adrenalin. Tryptophan is converted
into serotonin. Glycine itself is a major neurotransmitter in the
spinal cord. Glutamate is another important amino acid -
neurotransmitter.
Sources: amino acids are individually added to an AAX pure,
l-form amino acids. The formulas are hypoallergenic and have been tolerated by
people with extreme sensitivity to many if not most foods.
AAX can be used whenever increased intake of amino acids is desirable. The
dose range is 10 to 50 Grams per day in divided doses. The best time to take AAX
is between meals, before and after workouts and body building exercises. AAX can
be used to replace dietary protein when eating is reduced or digestion is
impaired. AAX can be added to Alpha ENF and or Alpha PMX to boost amino acid
intake.
Even with no food protein intake, a daily intake of 25 grams of free form
amino acids will be adequate for most people, most of the time. RDA protein
values are crude approximations based on food protein values. AAX is a precisely
engineered amino acid set and the amino acids are 100% available, so that the
total daily requirement for amino acids is lower the RDA values for protein
intake. As a rule of thumb, we recommend calculating the RDA protein requirement
in Grams and supplying 30 to 50% of that value as the Alpha blend of amino acids
.
Physician supervision is recommended
In Alpha AAX nine essential amino acids are complemented by 10 of the
non-essential amino acids. There are no additional ingredients in Alpha AAX.
Only pure l-form amino acids are provided. Alpha AAX is a
powder to be added to fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables or juices and mixed
in a blender. The formula is useful for special
nutritional needs.
Before you order, we want you to be well educated about amino acids and their
proper use as a nutritional supplement. Please read our online information
carefully and download the Alpha AAX eBook.
Download AAX Instructions
Alpha AAX is available in 500 Gram Jars
Order Alpha AAX
US$ cost is less, depending on the daily exchange rate.
All Alpha Nutrition products and services are ordered at Alpha Online. We
ship through the Post Office to all destinations in Canada and the USA. Prices
are quoted in Canadian dollars.
Alpha Nutrition® is a registered trademark and a division of Environmed
Research Inc., Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada. In business since 1984.
Online since 1995. email Alpha
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