Based on the press release of Dr. Ria Andreinie, S.ST., M.Kes
Essential amino acids are important substances needed by the body to support growth and development, especially in children. These substances play a role in forming proteins that the body uses to repair tissue, build muscle, and support the metabolic system. The body cannot produce essential amino acids itself, therefore children must get them from nutritious foods such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, and nuts.
Children’s growth is greatly influenced by the system in the body that regulates the formation of new cells and maintenance of body tissue, namely mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), a protein that functions as a “master controller” in the cell growth process. This protein helps the body process incoming nutrients, especially protein, to produce energy and build new tissue. mTORC1 activity is influenced by the intake of essential amino acids. When mTORC1 works well, the body is able to repair damaged tissue, increase muscle mass, and support healthy growth in children.
Our research found that there was a significant difference between children with normal growth and children who experienced stunting. In general, stunted children are older (12-24 months), have lower weight for age, shorter birth length, and smaller head circumference compared to normal children. However, no differences were found in feces (both in terms of physical appearance and microscopic examination) between the two groups.
The results of this study also found that levels of the amino acid tryptophan were significantly lower in stunted children compared to children with normal growth. Tryptophan plays an important role in the formation of growth hormone and serotonin which affect body and brain growth.
In addition, our study shows that the amino acid tryptophan is related to the incidence of stunting. This finding confirms that efforts to prevent stunting depend not only on the amount of food given, but also on its quality and nutritional content, especially protein intake containing essential amino acids. Another finding is that the amino acid lysine is related to mTORC1 levels, and it was found that mTORC1 interacts closely with two other proteins involved in the formation of new proteins in the body, namely S6K1 and 4E-BP1. All three work together to regulate metabolic processes and tissue growth. This means that if the intake of essential amino acids such as lysine is met, the activity of mTORC1, S6K1, and 4E-BP1 in the body will be optimal, so that it can support healthy growth. This finding strengthens the understanding of the importance of improving nutritional intake, especially proteins containing essential amino acids, can help prevent stunting and improve the quality of life of children in the future.