Question

On a diet consisting of nothing but protein, which of the following is the most likely outcome?

(a) loss of weight because amino acids cannot be used for the synthesis of fat
(b) muscle gain because the amino acids will go directly into building muscle
(c) tiredness because amino acids cannot be used to generate energy
(d) excretion of more nitrogenous (ammonia-derived) wastes than with a more balanced diet

Answer 1

On a protein-only diet, the most likely outcome is tiredness because amino acids cannot be used to generate energy. They are primarily used for protein synthesis, not as an energy source.

Step-by-step explanation:

On a diet consisting of nothing but protein, the most likely outcome would be (c) tiredness because amino acids cannot be used to generate energy. Amino acids are primarily used for protein synthesis and other nitrogen-containing compounds, not as a source of energy. When carbohydrates and fats are lacking, amino acids can be used as an alternate energy source, but prolonged use may lead to the destruction of essential tissues.

Loss of weight (a) due to the inability of amino acids to be synthesized into fat, muscle gain (b) due to the direct utilization of amino acids in building muscle, and excretion of more nitrogenous wastes (d) are not the most likely outcomes on a diet consisting only of protein.