Guest Author - Carolyn Chambers Clark, ARNP, EdD

What do amino acids do?

amino acids...

*are the building blocks for proteins, which provide the structure for all living things

*are linked together by peptide bonds

*enable vitamins and minerals to perform their jobs properly

*are necessary for the brain to receive and send messages

What do proteins do?

Your body must break protein down into its constituent amino acids to build the specific proteins it needs.

Proteins are essential for

*living cells to exist

*the enzymes and hormones that regulate all body processes

*regulating the body's water balance and maintaining the proper pH (acid-base balance)

*exchanging nutrients between body fluids and the tissues, blood and lymph

*forming chromosomes and passing genetic information to offspring

*making muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands, nails, hair, and many vital body fluids

What happens if you eat too much protein?

Most Americans eat too much protein. This results in a waste product called ammonia, a very toxic substance. Because it is so toxic, the body protects itself by turning the ammonia into urea, which is then carried to the kidneys and excreted. If you don't eat too much protein, the liver can neutralize ammonia. If you eat too much protein, poor digestion and/or a defect in liver function can result and toxic levels of ammonia can accumulate. Abnormally high levels of urea can also inflame the kidneys and cause back pain.

What happens when amino acids are deficient?

The body requires all of the 8 essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylanine, threonine and valine) to make proteins the body needs. Even if you eat a balanced diet with sufficient protein, impaired absorption, stress, trauma, infection, age, drug use and imbalances of other nutrients can lead to inadequate amounts of the essential amino acids.

A deficiency in

*isoleucine can lead to hypoglycemia, and may contribute to many physical and mental disorders

*methionine and taurine is linked to allergies and autoimmune disorders (arthritis, diabetes, cancers, etc.)

*tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and histidine may be associated with depression

*carnitine can result in confusion, heart pain, muscle weakness, and obesity

*glutathione can result in lack of coordination, mental disorders, tremors, and imbalance

*histidine may contribute to arthritis and nerve deafness

*lysine can result in blood shot eyes, irritability, anemia, lack of concentration, poor appetite, weight loss, and reproductive disorders. Find it in potatoes, lima beans, fish, eggs, and soy products

*tyrosine can result in depression, hypothyroidism, low lood pressure, and cold hands and feet

What are the amino acids, what do they do, and where can they be found?

*Alanine helps metabolize glucose and is a constituent of pantothenic acid, one of the B-vitamins and coenzyme A. Found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Some protein-rich plant foods like avocado also supply alanine.

*Arginine is crucial to the immune system may be beneficial to those suffering from AIDS and malignant diseases, liver disorders, sterility, weight loss, insulin release, arthritis and connective tissue disorders. Find it in carob, coconut, oats, peanuts, avocados, fish, soybeans, wheat and wheat germ.

*Asparagine helps maintain a calm state. Find it in meats.

*Aspartic Acid increase stamina, protects the liver, absorbs toxins, helps build immune system. Found in sprouted seeds.

*Carnitine increases the use of fat as an energy source, protects the liver against alcohol, reduces risk of heart disease, aids in weight loss, improve muscle strength in neuromuscular disorders. Find it in foods of animal origin.

*Citrulline promotes energy, stimulates the immune system, detoxifies ammonia. Find it in liver.

*Cysteine is the chief constituent in fingernails, toenails, skin and hair, aids in the production of collagen (glue that holds the body together), keeps the skin elastic, promotes healthy skin texture, detoxifies harmful toxins, protects from radiation danger, protects liver from toxic substances (smoke, alcohol, drugs), treats rheumatoid arthritis and hardening of the arteries, may protects against cancer, helps build muscle, breaks up mucus in the respiratory tract. Find it in poultry, wheat, broccoli, eggs, onion, red peppers.

*Cystine prevents side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can activate insulin (so use care if diagnosed with diabetes), may produce kidney stones in persons with cystinuria. This is synthesized in the liver from other amino acids.

*Dimethylglycine helps build hormones, nerve transmitters and DNA. Enhances the immune system, normalizes blood pressure and blood glucose levels, may control epileptic seizures, reduces blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Find it in meats, seeds and grains.

*Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is essential for brain metabolism and nerve transmission, prevents anxiety and stress-related messages and is not addictive like Valium, Librium and other tranquilizers. Has been used to treat epilepsy and high blood pressure, depressed sex drive, enlarged prostate, ADD. Too much can lead to shortness of breath, numbness around the mouth, tingling extremities. Is synthesized in the liver.

*Glutamic Acid helps transmit messages from the brain and build GABA, detoxified ammonia, transports potassium, helps in the metabolism of sugars and fats, treats behavioral disorders. Has been used to treat ulcers, hypoglycemia, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, and epilepsy. Find it in avocado, spinach, broccoli, and garlic.

*Glutamine promotes proper brain function, helps maintain proper acid/alkaline balance, is a building block for RNA and DNA, helps maintain a healthy digestive tract. As L-glutamine, it has been used to treat arthritis, intestinal disorders, autoimmune disorders, scleroderma, tissue damage, peptic ulcers, side effects of radiation treatment, ADD, epilepsy, impotence, fatigue, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and sugar cravings. Find it in whole grains.

*Glutathione detoxifies harmful compounds, protects white and red blood cells, may slow the aging process.

*Glycine helps construct DNA and RNA, repairs damaged tissues and promotes healing, maintain a healthy prostate, helps prevent epileptic seizures. Has been used to treat bipolar depression and hyperactivity. High protein food contains good amounts of glycine and is present in fish, meat, beans, and dairy products.

*Histidine helps repair and grow tissue, protects nerve cells, protects against radiation damage, removes heavy metals and may prevent AIDS, helps improve sexual functioning and pleasure, may help with digestion. Find it in apples, pineapples, papaya, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, whole grains, and all veggies except celery, radish, and turnips.

*Isoleucine helps form hemoglobin, regulate energy and blood sugar, increase endurance, heals and repairs muscle tissue. Find it in apples, apricots, dates, figs, peaches, pears, strawberries, tomatoes, all veggies except celery and lettuce, almonds, cashews, chicken, chickpeas, eggs, fish, lentils, liver, most seeds and soy protein.

*Leucine protects muscles and aids in healing, lowers elevated blood sugar. Find it in apples, apricots, dates, figs, peaches, pears, strawberries, tomatoes, all veggies except celery and lettuce, beans, brown rice, nuts, soy flour and whole wheat.

*Lycine helps absorb calcium, aids in the production of antibodies, hormones,and enzymes, helps surgery recovery, fights cold sores and herpes viruses. FOod sources of lycine include meat, milk, lima beans, nuts, brewer's yeast and potatoes.

*Methionine helps detoxify harmful agents, diminishes muscle weakness, protects against weakness and radiation, beneficial in osteoporosis, promotes excretion of estrogen. Food sources include soybeans, seeds, yogurt, eggs, fish, garlic, beans, onions and lentils.

*Ornithine helps with weight loss, liver and immune function, liver regeneration, heals and repairs skin. The body can manufacture ornithine but is abundant in protein foods such as meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.

*Phenylalanine can elevate mood, decrease pain, aids in memory, is a painkiller, increase mental alertness, help with PMS and Parkinson's. It is contained in most protein rich foods but good sources are found in dairy products, almonds, avocados, lima beans, peanuts and seeds.

*Proline improves skin, heals cartilage, strengthens joints and tendons and heart muscle. Find it in meat.

*Serine helps metabolize fats and maintain the immune system and is manufactured from other amino acids in the liver.

*Taurine helps digest fats and control cholesterol, is found in many body tissues, protects the brain from dehydration, works with zinc to maintain eye function, benefits Downs syndrome, may decrease the need for insulin, may aid breast cancer treatment and muscular dystrophy. Find it in chicken hearts and livers

*Threonine aids liver function, helps form elastin and collagen, prevents fatty liver. Find it in grains, nuts, seeds, and all veggies except celery, lettuce.

*Tryptophan helps produce vitamin B3, produces serotonin (necessary for normal sleep), combat depression, aids in weight control, keeps the heart healthy, treats migraines. Find it in soy protein, brown rice, peanuts and meat.

*Tyrosine helps regulate mood, suppresses the appetite, reduces body fat, helps glands maintain health. Find it in almonds, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, bananas, dairy products, avocados.

*Valine helps with tissue repair. Find it in dairy products, mushrooms, peanuts, and soy products.

Taking sufficient amino acids

Current research suggests that if you eat a variety of grains, legumes, dried beans or peas, fruits and vegetables within a 24-hour period that you will probably meet your protein and essential amino acid requirements.

Another safe source of all essential amino acids is Bragg's Liquid Aminos (health food store item). It is made from soy and tastes like soy sauce. You can use it in soups, salad dressings, and other dishes.

Although you can also find individual amino acids in a health food store, there is a danger of toxicity, especially if you are taking them for more than two months at a time. Talk to your health care practitioner prior to using individual amino acids, unless you are using them occasionally, such as lysine to counter a cold sore, for example.

This article is for information purposes only. For treatment, consult your health care practitioner.

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Sources and Resources:

http://www.dietician.com/vegetari.html
http://health.allrefer.com/health/protein-in-diet-sources.html
Prescription for Nutritional Health, Balch & Balch, Garden City Park, NY, Avery Publishing, 1997.
www.realtime.net/anr/aminoacd.html
www.cryst.bbk.ac.uk
www.1whey2health.com/foodsources
www.whas.com.au