Can excess protein be stored in the body?

The correct answer is that excess protein cannot be stored in the body as it can be for carbohydrates and fats. When dietary protein intake exceeds the body's needs for growth, maintenance, and repair, several processes occur.

Protein is broken down into amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. If there are more amino acids available than the body needs, they cannot be stored as amino acids. Instead, the body utilizes a process called deamination where the amino group is removed, and the remaining carbon skeleton can be converted into glucose or fat.

The processes involved involve energy expenditure for converting excess proteins, and ultimately, the surplus does not remain as amino acids in muscle or other tissues. This is fundamentally different from how carbohydrates can be stored as glycogen or fats as triglycerides for future energy use.

While you may see references to proteins influencing muscle growth and repair, excess protein intake doesn't translate to excessive amounts being stored in muscle tissue for future use.