Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and can be defined as an organic molecule made up of amine and carboxylic acid functional groups. Amino acids are not only responsible for the production of all the body's enzymes, catalyze most of the reactions in living cells, but they also play a key role in normalizing moods, concentration, aggression, attention, sleep and virtually all other cellular process.
Amino acids come from protein rich sources such as meat, fish, dairy products, and vegetables such as peas and beans. After protein is consumed, it is broken down by the digestive enzymes into amino acids. Then, individual amino acids are used to create necessary body proteins and enzymes. The body, through assimilation of amino acids, produces over 50,000 proteins and over 15,000 enzymes.
The 23 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein.
The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein. In addition, proteins contain within their amino acid sequences the necessary information to determine how that protein will fold into a three dimensional structure, and the stability of the resulting structure.
Humans do not have all the the enzymes required for the biosynthesis of all of the amino acids. Essential amino acids, also called limiting amino acids, are those that can not be produced in our body and there fore have to be obtained from food sources.
There are 9 essential and some semi-essential amino acids. Even at non-athletic levels of activity, the list of conditionally indispensabla amino acids has grown to 6.
Failure to obtain enough of even 1 of the essential amino acids, those that we cannot make, results in degradation of the body's proteins-muscle and so forth-to obtain the one amino acid that is needed.
Unlike fat and starch, the human body does not store excess amino acids for later use-the amino acids must be in the food every day.
The 13 amino acids that we can produce are alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, hidroxy-lysine, hydroxy-proline, tyrosine, gamma-carboxy-glutamic acid. Semi-esential amino acid is the arginine (essential for the young, but not for adults) and the essential amino acids are, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
BCAA (branched-chain amino acids)
The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They make up 35% of your muscle mass. Besides building cells and repairing tissue, they form antibodies, they are part of the enzyme and hormonal system, they build RNA and DNA and they carry oxygen throughout the body and regulate blood sugar level. BCAAs are considered essential amino acids because human beings cannot survive unless these amino acids are present in the diet.
During intense weight training the body is in a highly catabolic condition. At this time glycogen stores are being rapidly depleted and the liver in turn must synthesize glucose by a conversion of L-Alanine via the glucose-alanine cycle. The BCAA's are involved in maintaining glucose homeostasis through the glucose-alanine cycle. The glucose-alanine cycle involves pyruvate (derived from glucose) being transaminated in muscle to form alanine, with the BCAA serving as the main nitrogen source (donors) for the synthesis of alanine. Then the liver can synthesize glucose by a conversion of L-Alanine.
The BCAA's are special because they aren't significantly broken down in the liver and this results in release of the BCAA's from the liver into circulation. The BCAA are different from the other 17 amino acids in that they are primarily metabolized in skeletal muscle and metabolized at a much lower rate in the liver. The rate limiting enzyme in BCAA catabolism is Branched Chain Keto Acid Dehydrogenase, which is much more active in skeletal muscle than in the liver. Skeletal muscles are able to break down the BCAA's for energy and will do so during increased energy needs such as starvation, trauma, or exercise.
The BCAA's stimulate protein synthesis through insulin secretion/activation of the PI3K pathway, and through activation of mTOR.
One pathway through which protein synthesis can be increased is the phosphatodyl-inositol-3-kinase pathway (PI3K). PI3K regulates glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation and also increases amino acid uptake. Insulin, the body's "storage" hormone, works by activating the PI3K pathway.
Interestingly, leucine ingestion causes insulin secretion, but leucine can also directly activate PI3K in the absence insulin. So not only can leucine increase glucose uptake, it can also increase it's own and other amino acids' uptake into cells.
The Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is one of the body's protein synthesis regulators. When mTOR is activated (high ATP levels sensed) protein synthesis is increased and when mTOR is suppressed (low ATP levels are sensed) protein synthesis is blunted. Leucine is the key regulator of the mTOR-signaling pathway.
Intake of leucine stimulates expression of the hormone leptin in adipocytes. Leptin is a hormone, which is involved in the regulation of metabolism, body weight, and appetite.
L-Glutamine
L-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body, and makes up more than 60% of the intramuscular amino acid pool. Since we are capable of making glutamine on our own, it was originally labeled a non-essential amino acid. However, most scientists now consider glutamine to be a "conditionally" essential amino acid, because under certain conditions we are unable to make adequate amounts and thus need to obtain it from outside sources.
Studies have shown that our body's concentration of glutamine is markedly decreased during times of severe bodily stress, such as during major surgery, burns, starvation, serious infections and even prolonged exercise.
Glutamine is involved in many metabolic processes. There is an increased demand for glutamine during stress associated with exercise, illness or trauma. Following an intense workout your body needs to replenish glutamine stores to aid in recovery. L-Glutamine can help increase muscle cell hydration and aid in protein synthesis.
Glutamine supplementation supports protein synthesis as well as the rate of glycogen production by serving as a carbon donor.
Glutamine acts as a type of fuel for cells, especially for rapidly dividing cells such as enterocytes, colonocytes, lymphocytes and fibroblasts, serves as a fuel source for intestinal muscosal cells and nucleotide synthesis by lymphyctes. Glutamine is essential in the proper function of our digestive system, our immune system (our ability to fight infection) and our muscular system, to name a few.
Glutamine is a key component in the maintenance of healthy intestinal mucosa. Enterocytes (epithelial cells lining the small intestine) use glutamine as their primary fuel for metabolic function. It is felt that a lack of glutamine leads to a loss of epithelial cell integrity in the lining of the intestines. This, in turn, may allow toxins and infectious agents to enter the body.
Glutamine plays a major role in our infection-fighting "immune" system. Many immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, use glutamine as an energy source almost as much, if not more than, the amount of glucose they use for energy. Glutamine is also involved in the manufacture of other amino acids, including glutathione, an important intracellular antioxidant.
L-Glutamine plays an important role in many body functions such as proper immune system function, the transfer of nitrogen between organs, precursor to DNA, and regulation of protein synthesis and degradation.
L-Glutamine is vital in treating alcoholism, sugar cravings, epilepsy, mental disorders, maintaining blood sugar levels, enhancing gut immune function, bodybuilding, endurance, fat metabolism, regulating carbohydrate and protein, preventing lactic acid build up, brain and nerve functions, GI tract integrity, joint, and soft tissue maintenance.
L-Arginine
L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid synthesized by the body from ornithine. It is classified as a semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acid. This means that under normal circumstances the body can synthesize sufficient L-arginine to meet physiological demands. There are, however, conditions where the body cannot. L-arginine is essential for young children and for those with certain rare genetic disorders in which synthesis of the amino acid is impaired. Some stress conditions that put an increased demand on the body for the synthesis of L-arginine include trauma, sepsis, burns and intensive exercises.
L-arginine plays a number of other roles in the body. L-Arginine is the precursor in the formation of nitric oxide, creatine, polyamines, agmatin (a possible neurotransmitter in the brain) and the arginine-containing tetrapeptide tuftsin, believed to be an immunomodulator.
L-Arginine, through its availability and metabolization of nitric oxide (a gas that's responsible for transmitting important signals and regulating cellular functions in the body), has many beneficial effects. Nitric-oxid is our primary vasodilatator, it increases blood flow, muscle pump and vascularity. It regulates the blood pressure including improving blood flow, dilates and engorges the blood vessels in the penis and clitoris, facilitating erections in males and genital responsiveness in females. L-Arginine Helps achieve maximum sexual performance and increase sexual function. Males, whose seminal fluids contain up to 80% of this protein building block, especially need l-arginine for a deficiency could lead to infertility. As people age the production of L-Arginine decreases and many experts believe this is responsible for many degenerative processes related to aging, thus it plays an important role in maintaining health (including sexual health). L-Arginine helps long term memory and olfactory sensations.
L-arginine, when administered in high doses, inhibits GHIH (growth hormon inhibiting hormon) and stimulates pituitary release of growth hormone, prolactin.
L-arginine helps the detoxification of ammonia formed during the nitrogen catabolism of amino acids via the formation of urea.
L-Ornithine
Ornithine is a byproduct of the urea-cycle. It is a non essential amino-acid, human body is capable of producing this acid.
The body metabolizes L-Ornithine from arginine, during the production of urea. The structure of arginine and L-Ornithine is similar and both help to increase the production of human growth hormone, muscle mass, and lypolisys. L-Ornithine supports cleansing of liver.
In addition, it may have many health benefits. Several hospitals and emergency clinics use L-Ornithine for treatments of certain disorders linked with blood, hormones or liver to help patients to recover faster.
Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (OKG) is a balanced molecular formula, which provides greater anabolic activity. This formula is specially designed to fulfill the needs of weightlifters and athletes. The product contains L-Ornithine bonded to molecules of Alpha-Ketoglutarate, which provides several health benefits.
OKG is involved in the Krebs-cycle help energy production. OKG increases protein synthesis and reduces protein catabolism. In addition, it also improves somatotrophin and insulin secretion and redirects glucose and amino acids towards growing muscle. OKG resists muscle damage and increases the recovery of damaged muscle. Magnesium and vitamin C increase the effect of OKG, and help muscle growth.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is synthesized in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine. It is also found in avocados, dairy products, and red meats (especially lamb and beef).
L-carnitine transfers long-chain fatty acids, such as triglycerides into mitochondria, where they may be oxidized to produce energy.
Studies have been conducted on L-carnitine since as early as 1937. Those studies yielded positive results suggesting that the body's cardiovascular system can greatly benefit from its intake. There are a variety of published studies that suggest L-carnitine is useful in increasing the heart's output and improving it's functioning, as well as stimulating the heart's energy supply and supporting cardiac performance.
L-carnitine promotes fat burning, essential for the integrity and function of the cell, protects cell membrane, reduces liver fat accumulation and increases the antioxidant capacity of vitamin C and vitamin E. L-carnitine can promote an increases in the number of androgen receptors in the muscle, and prevents further nerve damage due to diabetes.
A deficiency in L-carnitin causes derangement of sperm metabolism leading to infertility.
Anyone deficient in protein or amino acids in their diet could benefit from L-carnitine supplementation. Pre-mature infants, vegan vegetarians, children, and breast-feeding women are likely to be deficient.
Deficiency in L-carnitin could lead to muscle weakness, hypoglycemia and high blood ammonia level.
A klinikai gyógyászatban a Parkinson-kór, stroke és a Peyronie-betegség kezelésében alkalmazzák.
Acetyl L-Carnitine
Acetyl L-Carnitine is similar in form to the amino acid L-carnitine and also has some similar functions, such as being involved in the metabolism of food into energy.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a molecule that occurs naturally in the brain, liver, and kidney and plays several important roles in the human body.
Acetyl-L-carnitine may improve depression and may have neuroprotective activity. It may also have cardioprotective activity and may beneficially affect cardiac function. It may enhance sperm motiliy, have cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity. Other uses for acetyl-L-carnitine include the treatment of Parkinson's disease, stroke, and Peyronie's disease.
These nutrients shuttle acetyl groups and fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production. Without carnitine, fatty acids cannot easily enter into mitochondria. The acetyl group of acetyl l carnitine is used to form acetyl-CoA, the most important intermediary in the generation of energy from amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates. Therefore, acetyl l carnitine serves as an energy reservoir of acetyl groups and both acetylcarnitine and carnitine help improve energy production. The acetyl group of acetyl l carnitine is also used to make the important brain chemical acetylcholine.
Acetyl l carnitine has a significantly more immediate and noticeable mental effect than carnitine because it crosses into the brain much better. The mind boosting effect of acetyl l carnitine is often noticed within a few hours, or even within an hour.
L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid. The body can make L-tyrosine from the amino acid phenylalanine. L-tyrosine rich foods include animal meat, wheat products, oatmeal and seafood.
It is a precursor, as well as a precursor to the adrenal hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine.
L-tyrosine is a precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine, supplementing with L-tyrosine may heighten mental alertness, increase feelings of well being, decrease feelings of depression, and offset physical and mental fatigue and help avoid overtraining.
L-tyrosine also serves to protect the integrity of the skin. Melanin, a substance which acts to protect the skin when the epidermis has been exposed to ultraviolet light, is derived from L-tyrosine. If a shortage of melanin is present within the body [because of a lack of L-tyrosine], skin defenses will be compromised. Melanin, which is derived from L-tyrosine, chemically reacts with sunlight to form a protective shield that protects the deeper layers of skin tissue.
Because persons suffering from depression frequently have low blood levels of this amino-acid, it may prove beneficial for members of this population to supplement with L-Tyrosine. People suffering from neurological degeneracy may also benefit from supplemental L-tyrosine.
Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) are two tyrosine based hormones, the Thyroid Gland in our body secretes. These hormones regulate body growth, metabolism, skin health, and mental state. These hormones help boost the body's Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) (number of calories burnt) and the body's permissiveness sensitivity to Catecholamines (e.g. Adrenaline).
Because of this, L-tyrosine may prove effective for weight loss.
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Amino acids
