Amino Acid Information, News and Claims

It is said that amino acids are the essential building blocks of protein, as proteins are chains of amino acids linked. Amino acids are critically important to most body functions and although various amino acids often work together in the body, each individual amino acid (there are 20 used by the human body) has a handful of "specialties," or functions that each amino acid promotes best. Besides the role of amino acids in protein synthesis, amino acids also contribute to the metabolic functions that involve growth and reproduction¹.

Amino acids that are indispensable to the body include amino acids histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, sulfur amino acids, aromatic amino acids, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

Amino acids may boost performance

Recent studies on the regulation of protein turnover in the body provide new insights into the important regulatory functions of amino acids in cellular protein synthesis and degradation. It appears that certain amino acids react favorably with hormone-producing endocrine glands to maximize the body's overall performance thus, leading to initial findings that the body's performance level can be artificially manipulated through the introduction of amino acids to the diet.

Essential amino acids

Three essential amino acids - leucine, isoleucine and valine - are amino acids critical to the rebuilding process, working together to assist the healing of muscle, skin and bone tissue. Called branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), these amino acids are key ingredients in many new amino acid supplements that promote rapid workout recovery².

Amino Acid Q&A at Vitacost.com

Q: What are amino acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds composed of one or more amino groups, and one or more acidic carboxyl groups, and are the basic building blocks of protein.

Q: What do amino acids accomplish in the body?

Amino acids are used for growth, maintenance and cell repair.

Q: How many amino acids are there?

There are 20 amino acids in all in the human body. Twelve amino acids can be synthesized by the body as needed, and the remaining eight amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and hence are referred to as essential amino acids.

Q: Are amino acids and protein the same thing?

No. Chains of amino acids are what comprise protein.

Q: How do I know if I need to take an amino acid supplement?

Nutritionists say that consuming the RDA of the right kinds of proteins in whole foods will deliver sufficient amino acids. However, bodybuilders frequently supplement their diets with amino acids to improve performance.

Q: Do our bodies need amino acids?

Yes. Amino acids contribute to just about every body function imaginable.

Q: What foods contain amino acids?

Most whole food contains amino acids, but the only complete food sources for all of the amino acids used by the body are red meat, fowl, fish and seafood. It's why many vegans take amino acid supplements.

Q: Will amino acid supplements help with immune system strength?

A diet full of essential amino acids may promote immune system health.

Q: What are essential amino acids?

Three essential amino acids - leucine, isoleucine and valine - are amino acids critical to the body's rebuilding processes.

View our entire listing of amino acid products.

¹ R.E. Austic. Feedstuffs. Jan 24, 2005 v77 i4 p13³.
² Mike Pehanich. Prepared Foods. March 2003 v172 i3 pNS24³.