Editing Nutrition (section)

=== Proteins ===

Proteins supply amino acids for tissue building, enzymes, hormones, immune globulins, and oncotic pressure.

* '''Complete proteins''' contain all nine essential amino acids: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, soy, and quinoa.
* '''Incomplete proteins''' are missing one or more essential amino acids. Plant proteins are combined over the course of the day (rice and beans, peanut butter and whole wheat bread, hummus and pita) to supply the full complement. They do not have to be eaten in the same meal.
* Baseline adult requirement is about 0.8 g/kg/day. Needs rise to roughly 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg/day with major burns, sepsis, trauma, large wounds, and pressure injuries.
* Protein is '''restricted''' in advanced chronic kidney disease that is not yet on dialysis, and in some cases of acute hepatic encephalopathy. Protein is '''increased''' once a patient starts hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis because amino acids are lost into the dialysate.

'''Nursing application:''' A vegan patient is at particular risk for vitamin B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 deficiency. Vitamin B12 occurs naturally only in animal foods, so supplementation or fortified foods are required, not optional.