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•	Amino Acids

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Dietary Supplements

Amino Acids


View information on antioxidants and vitamins and minerals.

What Are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are considered the building blocks of life. There are a total of 20 different types of amino acids which make up about 75% of the human body. They are essential to almost every bodily function. Next to water, protein makes up the greatest portion of our body weight. Every chemical reaction within the body relies on amino acids and the proteins that they build. This occurs in a two-step process:

1) Amino acids come together and form peptides, also known as polypeptides (peptides are compounds which are formed by linking one or more amino acids)
2) From these groupings, proteins are then made

Essential & Non Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids are considered either "essential" or "non essential". The type of amino acid determines the shape and function of the proteins formed.

Essential

Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be ingested from food. Unlike fats, the body does not store amino acids for future use, therefore failure to get enough of even one of the essential amino acids can result in protein degradation. Any amino acids may become essential (requiring dietary supplementation) if the body is for some reason unable to produce them.

Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine

Non Essential

The human body can produce non essential amino acids. They are manufactured within the body by combining two or more essential amino acids.

Arginine (semi-essential)
Alanine
Asparagine
Aspartic Acid
Cysteine
Glutamic Acid
Glutamine
Glycine
Proline
Serine
Tyrosine

Arginine is considered a semi-essential amino acid because although the body can create its own supply, there are times when dietary supplementation may be required (e.g. for certain health conditions).

Other Amino Acids

Unline the amino acids listed above, certain amino acids are not considered a building block for proteins. These amino acids include:

Carnitine
Citrulline
GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)
Orthinine
Taurine

Adequate amounts of dietary protein are needed by the body to form all 20 amino acids. The essential amino acids are required for the production of the non essential amino acids. People with diets low in protein or with eating disorders, or who are malnourished, may develop an amino acid deficiency which can lead to a variety of health problems including fatigue and depression. Even one lacking amino acid can cause serious health issues. Deficiencies of a non essential amino acid does not typically occur with a well-balanaced diet because the intake of proper foods will allow the body to produce exactly the amount of amino acid required by the body.

What Do Amino Acids Do?

There are only 20 amino acids, but without them all of the metabolic processes necessary to create and sustain animal and human life would not be possible. Long chains of amino acids combine to form up to 55,000 different proteins, each of which is used to support the growth and functioning of all bodily organs. Growth, repair and maintenance of all cells are dependent upon amino acids. Without them, all cellular development, respiration, and renewal would cease. Amino acids:

- Maintain and repair muscles, tendons, skin, ligaments, organs, glands, nails and hair.

- Help in the production of hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters critically needed throughout the body.

- Aid in the reduction of stress.

- Form the proteins which form muscle tissue, increase muscle strength and increase fat metabolism.

Athletes often use amino acid supplements or protein drinks designed to help them build muscle and increase strength.

Food Sources of Amino Acids

Foods high in protein help provide all of the necessary amino acids in the diet. Dietary proteins are classed into two groups, depending on the amino acids they contain:

Complete Proteins (containing an ample supply of essential amino acids)

Meat
Fish
Poultry
Cheese
Eggs
Milk

Incomplete Proteins (containing smaller amounts of essential amino acids)

Grains
Legumes
Green Leafy Vegetables

There are more than 300 amino acids which have been found in the natural world, from sources including microorganisms and meteorites.

Unfortunately, due to the heavily processed foods in today's Western diet lacking many nutrients and quality protein, people could benefit from some form of amino acid supplementation.

Interactions

Individuals with kidney or liver disease should not consume high intakes of amino acids without first consulting a medical professional. Taking any one amino acid supplement can cause a disruption of the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle). During this cycle, other amino acids and biochemicals, such as Asparagine, Arginine, Lysine, Methionine, Threonine, and Isoleucine, are synthesized from Aspartic Acid. If this process is disrupted, a build-up of nitrogen and ammonia in the body can result. This makes the liver and kidneys work harder to remove waste.


View information on antioxidants and vitamins and minerals.