The ultimate science behind biochem nutrition

Biochemical nutrition

What strikes our mind when we hear “biochem nutrition”? It sounds complex, but it establishes the captivating link between biochemistry and nutrient science i.e. the ultimate science behind biochem nutrition. Biochemical nutrition is a field that investigates the crossing point of biochemistry and nutrition, inspecting how the supplements we consume affect our cell and molecular processes. This field overcomes all the barriers between the nutritional components of diet and your body health at molecular level to healthy body development and prevent infections. This article highlights the biochemical nutritional standards, the role of macronutrients and micronutrients, the molecular pathways interlinking with digestion, and the problems associated with health and illness. Everything revolves around understanding how our bodies utilize the dietary element, nutrients and supplements we consume.

Nutrition absorption in biochemical systems

Biochemical nutrition is established on several core rules that characterize how supplements connect with our body’s biochemical frameworks:

Nutrient utilization

The body utilizes supplements from food to create energy, assemble and fix tissues, and manage metabolic processes. Every supplement assumes a particular part in keeping up with homeostasis.

Metabolic pathways

Supplements are processed through different biochemical pathways, like glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, which convert food into energy and other important compounds.

Enzyme function

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical responses. Supplements frequently go about as cofactors or coenzymes, fundamental for enzyme function.

Genetic influence

Dietary elements can have a direct influence on our genes functioning and can result in various genetic susceptibilities.

There are many international organizations working to establish safe protocols and guidelines upon biochemical nutrients and disease management all across the world. One of the organizations is American Society for Nutrition (ASN) promotes guidelines upon biochemical nutrition research, education and its effect on metabolism.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients carry out the process of growth and development, so are required in large amounts to drive various metabolic reactions of our body. The ultimate science behind biochem nutrition of these macromolecules includes:

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the potential dietary element and energy source of our body. The most common monosaccharide sugar called glucose, is broken down in the cellular respiration pathway to release the energy currency of cells, which is ATP. Carbohydrates are grouped into simplest monomers sugars (monosaccharides), disaccharides and complex polymer sugars called polysaccharides.

Glycolysis, common to both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, causes incomplete breakdown of glucose to produce pyruvic acid, ATP, and NADH. It takes place in the cell cytoplasm.
Gluconeogenesis involves glucose production from breakdown of compounds other than carbohydrates, during low blood sugar levels, fasting or after heavy physical exertion.

Proteins

Proteins are polymers of amino acids, which regulate several structural and functional metabolic processes of living organisms. They are important for immune cell formation, tissue repair process, growth function, and the production of enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters.

Metabolic proteins are broken into amino acids, which can be used for protein formation. In response to cell metabolic regulation, these amino acids can also be converted into glucose or unsaturated fats for energy production.

The urea cycle, in the liver, detoxifies harmful amino acid breakdown nitrogen wastes molecules into less toxic urea molecules and excreted out of the body.

Fats

Fats, or lipids, are constituents of cell membrane, function as potential source of energy, involve in hormone production and are important for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

Beta-oxidation converts unsaturated fatty acids into acetyl-CoA inside mitochondria, which further enters the Kreb cycle.
Ketogenesis produces ketone bodies from unsaturated fatty acids, during low carb levels, which can serve as an alternative energy source for the brain and tissue health.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients supplement our body with small quantities. They mostly function as cofactors for various enzymatic responses or as primary constituents of cells and tissues.

Vitamins

Vitamins are biochemical nutritional elements essential to maintain regulatory mechanisms and overall health of the living body. Vitamin B & C are water soluble in nature while A, D, E & K are fat soluble.

Vitamin B complex promotes nerve cells pathway, red blood cell production and energy generation in our body cells. For instance, vitamin B₁₂ leads to DNA duplication and nerve impulse conduction.
Vitamin C, reduces oxidative stress, involves in bone matrix synthesis, immune cells production, and iron absorption from plant-based food sources.
Vitamin D regulates bone mineralization process. It effectively helps in calcium and phosphorus absorption to increase bone health. The sunlight exposure promotes its absorption in skin.

Minerals

Dietary minerals are chemical compounds of inorganic origin and supplements our body for various enzymatic and biochemical pathways. Micro and macro minerals are the two significant divisions of dietary minerals important for the bodies living organisms.

Calcium supplements the neurons, cardiac, muscle cells functioning, as well as maintains our bone and teeth mineralization.
Iron helps in Hb production, which transports oxygen in the blood. Lack of iron can cause anemia.
Magnesium is engaged with 300 enzymatic responses, including energy production, DNA replication, and muscle capability.

Biochemical pathways of metabolism

The ultimate science behind the biochem nutrition metabolism includes a series of biochemical pathways that convert food into energy and other fundamental mixtures. These pathways are interconnected and firmly managed to address the body’s issues.

Glycolysis taking place in cytoplasm involves glucose breakdown to pyruvic acid, thereby generating ATP and NADH as a byproduct.
The Kreb cycle occurs in mitochondria, which is essential to aerobic respiration, which uses acetyl-CoA to generate ATP, NADH, and FADH₂.
Oxidative phosphorylation works through ETC to utilize electrons driven from NADH and FADH₂, in mitochondrial cisternae. The process generates ATP through proton gradient slope. The final electron acceptor is oxygen, producing water.
Beta-oxidation produces acetyl-CoA from unsaturated fatty acid breakdown, which enters in mitochondria to initiate the Krebs cycle of aerobic respiration.
Lipogenesis breaks unsaturated fatty acids stored as triacylglycerols in adipose tissues to produce acetyl-CoA.

International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) prioritize global communication on strategic nutrition outcomes by organizing international conferences to promote nutrient scientists research collaboration on biochem nutrition advancement through modern technologies. The highlights and important proceedings of International Union of Nutritional Sciences 21st International Congress of Nutrition science can be read through the link provided.

Implications for health and disease

The ultimate science behind biochem nutrition profile is directly associated with health and infection. The detailed insight on the molecular basis of nourishment can help in different disease prevention and management.

Obesity

Obesity results in excess fat accumulation in body cells. Unsaturated fatty acids and lipids rich diet promotes obesity and other related problems including high glucose levels and high blood pressure expanding risk for heart problems.

Insulin resistance elevates blood sugar levels, as cells inhibit response to insulin.
Chronic low-grade inflammation in obese persons causes other persistent medical ailments.

Cardiovascular health

Balanced diet plays an essential part in cardiovascular health. A high saturated fat diet immersed in trans fats, and cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, the development of plaques in the arteries. Omega-3 fats found in fish and flaxseed, are anti-inflammatory and can decrease the risk of coronary illness by bringing down fatty acid levels and further improving heart health. Vitamins C and E, with different antioxidant agents, can safeguard against oxidative pressure, a central point in the improvement of cardiovascular diseases.

Bone health

The proper intake of calcium, vitamin D, and other different dietary supplements is fundamental bone health and prevents osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D are crucial metabolic components for bone mineralization and strength. Vitamin D increases calcium assimilation in the stomach. Magnesium and phosphorus are important for bone strength, as they constitute bone matrix.