Why amino acids

Amino acids are essential for human life. Amino acids support the different functions of our bodies. The proteins in our bodies are made up of 20 amino acids. Amino acids produce the taste of food and keep us healthy. For example they are used for sports nutrition, medicines, beauty products and they reduce caloric intake. An amino acid deficiency can harm normal growth. In extreme cases it can be life-threatening.

As long as you eat a normal diet, you should be getting enough amino acids. However, recent studies suggest that persons who do intensive sports and the elderly are at risk of having amino acid deficiencies. Amino acids have four calories per gram. This is the same amount of calories as glucose, an element of table sugar. However, if you take amino acids as supplements, only small amounts of amino acids are consumed.

So they are low in calories, and you are very unlikely to gain weight from them. If you consume more amino acids than your body needs, the excess amino acids are broken down and leave your body as waste. Just like taking any other nutrients, if you consume more amino acids than what your body needs, it can be a burden for your body.

If you are eating a normal diet, you should be getting enough amino acids. However, eating foods with a bad nutritional balance or not eating enough food, for example by dieting, can lead to amino acid deficiencies or imbalances. Hard exercise burns specific amino acids in the body. If you do hard exercise, it can be very beneficial to take amino acid supplements.

Supplementing with specific amino acids can also increase the amino acid levels in your blood. This improves various functions in your body. To make sure you get enough essential amino acids and in a good balance you should eat staple foods such as rice or bread together with a good balance of foods such as meat, fish, eggs and soy. Proteins are digested in the gastrointestinal tract and become amino acids. Nutrient digestion and absorption. Medical Physiology.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Dietzen DJ. Amino acids, peptides, and proteins. In: Rifai N, ed. Amino acids are essential compounds common to all living things, from microbes to humans. All living bodies contain the same 20 types of amino acids. The body of a person who weighing 50 kg has about 10 kg of amino acids in their body make up.

Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins. There are , types of proteins that are made up of just 20 amino acids. Of total 20 amino acids, 9 amino acids cannot be synthesized in our bodies and we need to take them in through our diets. These are called essential or indispensable amino acids. The 11 remaining amino acids can be synthesized from other amino acids in the body and thus are called non-essential or dispensable amino acids. However, both essential and non-essential amino acids play an important role to support our life.

Some non-essential amino acids e. Arginine, Cysteine, and Tyrosine are called semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acids because they tend to run low during infancy or in health conditions such as being sick, injured or after surgery.

Amino acids which link together to make up proteins not only make up our bodies but also regulate most of the essential functions of our bodies. Some common examples of proteins are collagen, keratin, hemoglobin etc. Amino Acids also regulate and maintain our body by becoming enzymes or hormones. Some commonly known hormones are Thyroid, Insulin, Adrenalin etc. One more important function of amino acids is to supply energy to the body. Typically, a healthy body on an average diet uses carbohydrates as a primary source of fuel but proteins and amino acids can be used as a last resort when the primary sources are depleted due to rigorous exercise.

Amino acids also play an important role in food taste. Amino acids build muscles, cause chemical reactions in the body, transport nutrients, prevent illness, and carry out other functions. Amino acid deficiency can result in decreased immunity, digestive problems, depression , fertility issues, lower mental alertness, slowed growth in children, and many other health issues. Each of the essential amino acids plays a different role in the body, and the symptoms of deficiency vary accordingly.

Lysine plays a vital role in building muscle, maintaining bone strength, aiding recovery from injury or surgery, and regulating hormones, antibodies, and enzymes. It may also have antiviral effects. There is not a lot of research available on lysine deficiency, but a study on rats indicates that lysine deficiency can lead to stress-induced anxiety.

Histidine facilitates growth, the creation of blood cells, and tissue repair. It also helps maintain the special protective covering over nerve cells, which is called the myelin sheath.

The body metabolizes histidine into histamine, which is crucial for immunity, reproductive health, and digestion. The results of a study that recruited women with obesity and metabolic syndrome suggest that histidine supplements may lower BMI and insulin resistance. Deficiency can cause anemia , and low blood levels appear to be more common among people with arthritis and kidney disease.

Threonine is necessary for healthy skin and teeth, as it is a component in tooth enamel, collagen , and elastin. It helps aid fat metabolism and may be beneficial for people with indigestion , anxiety, and mild depression.

A study found that threonine deficiency in fish led to these animals having a lowered resistance to disease. Methionine and the nonessential amino acid cysteine play a role in the health and flexibility of skin and hair. Methionine also helps keep nails strong. It aids the proper absorption of selenium and zinc and the removal of heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. Valine is essential for mental focus, muscle coordination, and emotional calm. People may use valine supplements for muscle growth, tissue repair, and energy.

Deficiency may cause insomnia and reduced mental function. Isoleucine helps with wound healing, immunity, blood sugar regulation, and hormone production. It is primarily present in muscle tissue and regulates energy levels. Older adults may be more prone to isoleucine deficiency than younger people.