Protein nitrogen unit
Protein Nitrogen Unit (PNU)
Protein Nitrogen Unit (PNU) (pronunciation: proh-teen nigh-troh-jen yoo-nit) is a unit of measurement used in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics to quantify the nitrogen content in a protein source.
Etymology
The term "Protein Nitrogen Unit" is derived from the words 'protein' and 'nitrogen'. 'Protein' comes from the Greek word 'proteios', meaning 'primary' or 'in the lead'. 'Nitrogen', on the other hand, is derived from the Greek words 'nitron' and 'genes', meaning 'native soda' and 'forming' respectively. The unit is so named because it measures the amount of nitrogen, a primary component of proteins, in a given source.
Definition
A Protein Nitrogen Unit (PNU) is defined as the amount of protein that can be broken down into 1 milligram of nitrogen. This unit is used to measure the protein content of various foods, helping to determine their nutritional value.
Related Terms
- Protein: A complex molecule composed of amino acids that is fundamental to all living cells and involved in the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.
- Nitrogen: A chemical element with symbol N and atomic number 7. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at about seventh in total abundance in the Milky Way and the Solar System.
- Amino Acids: Organic compounds that combine to form proteins. Amino acids and proteins are fundamental components of life.
- Dietetics: The science of how food and nutrition affects human health.
- Nutrition: The science that interprets the nutrients and other substances in food in relation to maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease of an organism.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Protein nitrogen unit
- Wikipedia's article - Protein nitrogen unit
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