Amino Acid Supplements

There are basically two types of amino acids - essential and non-essential. The former are called 'essential' because they are not produced within the body, we have to obtain them from food sources. The latter are produced by our body and hence are named as 'non-essential'. Both types of amino acids have their specific functions and they are the building blocks of protein. They are utilized by every cell in the body for a variety of crucial functions. In case of deficiency of amino acids or for therapeutic benefits, amino acid supplements are recommended.

Supplements that Provide Amino Acids

There are twenty amino acids which can be combined in various combinations to make the protein required by the body. Essential amino acids include isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine and valine which are also known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Supplements that contain essential amino acids may include any one of the above amino acids or combination of two or more of them. Animal products like meats, eggs, cheese, milk are excellent natural sources of amino acids.

Mostly, the supplements contain following amino acids.

• Acetyl L-Carnitine
• Arginine
• Carnitine
• Carnosine
• Cysteine
• DLPA
• GABA
• Glutamine
• Glutathione
• Glycine
• Histidine
• Lysine
• N-Acetyl Cysteine
• Ornithine
• Phenylalanine
• Taurine
• Tryptophan
• Tyrosine

The most consumed supplements contain arginine, tryptophan, tyrosine, glutamine and lysine.

Benefits

Amino acids help repair muscles, organs, nails, hair, skin, ligaments, and glands. They are utilized by every cell in the body for a variety of crucial functions. Proteins, body's building blocks, are composed of various amino acids and play an important role in body's metabolism. Proteins are required to make enzymes, membranes, mucus, hormones, etc. The supplements can be helpful in various situations. The following table describes the amino acids and benefits offered by them.

Amino Acids	Useful For
DLPA, Glutamine, Tyrosine	Alcohol withdrawal
Acetyl-L-carnitine, Tyrosine	Alzheimer's disease
Arginine, Carnitine	Angina, Infertility (male)
Soy	Cancer risk reduction, Hormone replacement therapy, Menopause
Carnitine	Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, High triglycerides, Intermittent claudication
Cysteine, N-acetyl cysteine	Chemotherapy support, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Emphysema, Bronchitis
Alanine, Glutamic acid, Glycine	Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Carnitine, Taurine	Diabetes
Taurine	Epilepsy, High blood pressure
Lysine	Herpes simplex
Arginine, Carnitine, Taurine	Congestive Heart Failure
DLPA, L-phenylalanine, tyrosine	Depression
Thymus proteins	Hepatitis
Carnitine, Soy	High Cholesterol
Cysteine, Glutamine, N-acetyl cysteine	HIV support
DLPA	Osteoarthritis, Pain
Glutamine	Peptic ulcer, Ulcerative colitis
Methionine, Taurine	Liver support
L-phenylalanine	Parkinson's disease, Vitiligo
Leucine, Tyrosine	Phenylketonuria
BCAAs, Creatine	Postsurgery recovery
DLPA, Histidine	Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ornithine, Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate	Wound healing
BCAA, Carnitine, Creatine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Ornithine, Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, Valine, Whey protein	Athletic support

For Athletes
The supplements are especially popular among athletes and body builders as they enjoy increased muscle mass and improved performance after taking the supplements. For instance, a supplement, containing a mixture of the BCAA, arginine and glutamine, can help quicker recovery from muscle fatigue that follows eccentric exercise training. The oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is increased and chances of muscle damage are decreased by regular consumption of these supplements. An improvement in training efficiency along with positive effects on muscle integrity and hematopoiesis can be observed when amino acid supplements are taken by athletes.

For Weight Loss
Amino acids make the cells healthy and strong and thus help in energy formation and in weight loss. They give you a greater ability to lose body fat. Arginine amino acid present in L-Arginine has the potential to burn fat.

For Children
Children with ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can be benefited by amino acid supplementation. These children exhibit neurotransmitter deficiencies in the brain which play an important role in their behavior, memories and learning abilities. Amino acids can make up neurotransmitters and are capable of encouraging proper functioning of neurotransmitters, correcting certain chemical imbalances in the brain. Deficiency of these nutrients in children can result in impaction of neurotransmitters which in turn can lead to concentrating problems, lack of focus and insomnia. Sudden 'unpredictable changes' in behavior can be curbed with amino acids consumption. L-Arginine can trigger the production of human growth hormone (HGH) in pituitary gland which can improve the chances of growing tall.

Side Effects

Most amino acid supplements are harmless but some supplements can cause restlessness, anxiety and rapid heartbeat at higher doses. For example, overdose of Tyrosine can cause restlessness and anxiety. It should be noted that intake of too many amino acids increases the load on the kidneys. Similarly, unbalanced mixtures of the acids or excessive intake of a single amino acid can be equally harmful. These supplements, when used as a part of a 'high protein low fat' diet can lead to abnormal heart rhythms. Those who are interested in taking these supplements should remember that vitamin B6 and vitamin C are needed for amino acid metabolism as these vitamins promote the absorption of amino acids. You are supposed to consume these vitamins with your supplements. You should prefer L-forms of these acids as they are more acceptable to the body. Check that the supplement contains right proportions of amino acids.

It is recommended to take single amino acid supplement with empty stomach, as this promotes proper absorption. An important point to note down is that amino acids work best when all of essential and non-essential ones are provided to the body. Scarcity of these nutrients can affect the digestive health, cardiovascular health and neurological balance of an individual. The deficiency can result in arthritis and affect cognitive functions. But you should consult your doctor before consuming any nutritional supplements. You are expected to follow the instructions religiously and stick to the recommended dosage to avoid possible side effects.