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digestive enzymes
- Thread starter D00fy
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6 Pack Man
New member
Anthrax said:
This article helps explain this a little better.
"Proteins are broken down in the stomach into smaller chains of AAs via various enzymes such as hydrochloric acid, trypsinogen and pepsinogen which break the bonds between AAs (1). In essence, these enzymes can be though of as scissors which cut large proteins into smaller chunks, which are then further digested. The specifics of breakdown are unimportant for this discussion and interested readers are referred to any biochemistry or nutrition textbook for details (1).
The breakdown of whole protein ultimately produces peptide chains which vary in length. This includes single AAs (peptides), chains of two AAs (di-peptides), and chains of three AAs (tri-peptides). Less than 5% of ingested protein is lost daily in the feces (1).
AAs are absorbed through the intestine via specific transporters. Depending on the transporter type, a certain AA will be absorbed and transported across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Additionally, many AA transporters carry more than one amino acid (1). This means that individuals who take large amounts of a single amino acid may overload a given transporter, and impair transport of a different amino acid which is carried by that same transporter. That is, like most nutrients, excess intake of one amino acid can potentially lead to deficiencies of another, due to competition for the same transport mechanism (1).
In addition to the single AA transporters, there are also transporters to carry di- and tri-peptides into the bloodstream (4). Chains longer than 4 AAs cannot be transported across the intestinal wall directly, and must be broken down to smaller chains prior to absorption (4).
The chemistry of protein digestion and transport have implications for a number of supplements. The first is the rash of 'oral peptide hormones' (such as GH or IGF-1) which are being marketed. Since peptide hormones are far longer than 4 AA in length, there is simply no way that oral ingestion can get any of the active hormone into the bloodstream. This assumes that such a product was real in the first place, which it is probably not since GH and IGF-1 are very expensive and are only available by prescription.
The protein digesting enzymes will break down orally ingested peptide hormones into smaller amino acid chains which will be treated just like any other dietary protein. Put differently, there's a reason that GH, IGF-1 and insulin have to be injected: because they are broken down in the stomach to peptide chains, losing any value they might have as hormones.
The same holds for glandular supplements. For those who weren't bodybuilding back in the 80's, glandulars were dried extracts of various glands, which were supposed to improve the function of that same gland in the person who took it. So a thyroid glandular would consist of ground up thyroid gland (which is made of protein like most other tissues in the body) and ingestion was supposed to improve your thyroid function. A testicular (or orchic) glandular was ground up testicular tissue and was supposed to improve testicular function. As a large protein, any glandular will be simply broken down into smaller amino acid chains and treated like any other form of protein, making the claims for glandulars absurd."
CARPATHIAN FOREST
New member
You may be thinking of Aminogen@
