Amino Acids Flashcards
Essential Amino Acids
Isoleucine Leucine Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Threonine Tryptophan Valine
Nonessential Amino Acids
Alanine Asparagine Aspartic acid Cysteine Glutamine Glutamic acid Glycine Proline Seeing Tyrosine
Asparagine
Non essential
Helps maintain nervous system equilibrium
Detoxifier in metabolism
Isoleucine
Essential
Branched chain
Often deficient in elderly; may contribute to muscle wasting, tissues, and tremors
Valine
Essential
Branched chain
Aids in healing from infections, stress, injury
Aids in detoxification
Aids in glucose intolerance
Phenylalanine
Essential
Changes into tyrosine in body (which makes brain chemicals)
Found in aspartame
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Missing enzyme to break down phenylalanine, causing toxicity and brain disability.
Diet: avoid phenylalanine, take tyrosine supplements
Tyrosine
Non-essential
Makes L-dopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and thyroid hormones
Mood and appetite
Proline
Non essential
Helps make collagen
Can reduce HTN
Often attached to glucose and galactose
Leucine
Essential
Branched chain
Muscle protein synthesis
Arginine
Nonessential (except essential in infants)
Synthesis of nitric oxide
Vascular tone (degree of blood vessel constriction) and heart pumping/circulation
Glucosamine
Non essential
Surrounds joints so good for arthritis
