Amino Acids

Question 1

Essential Amino Acids

Answer 1

• phenylalanine
• tryptophan
• leucine
• isoleucine
• lysine
• methionine
• threonine
• valine
• for infants: histadine
• taurine
• cysteine

Question 2

Histadine

Answer 2

• essential AA for infants
• becomes histamine
• brain power, ADD, immune function
• needed for orgasm

Question 3

Taurine

Answer 3

• essential AA for infants
• well-absorbed, sulfur bearing AA derived from cysteine
• concentrated in the eyes/protective on retina tissues
• anti-seizure
• reduces anxiety/precursor to GABA
• involved in heart contractions, gallbladder function
• decreases cholesterol, used for CVD
• diabetes: helps release insulin
• not good for people taking aspirin
• therapeutic rangs: 1.5-3 g/day
• foods: cottage cheese, cheese, wild game, cod, pork, whole milk

Question 4

Arginine

Answer 4

• essential AA for children
• primary role in urea cycle
• deficiencies usually related to overall protein malnutrition
• immune enhancement (30 g/day)
• cancer treatment, wound healing
• male infertility (due to low sperm count)
• increases lean body mass in high doses
• promotes growth of herpes simplex
• food: whole almonds, turkey, lamb, salmon, cooked soybeans, ricotta, collards)

Question 5

L-Carnitine

Answer 5

• non-essential, more like hormone/vitamin
• made in the liver, kidneys, brain
• iron, vitamin C, B6 and niacin needed for synthesis
• optimum intake: 250-500 mg/day
• high carnitine (above 2 g/day) can inhibit thyroid
• food: beef, pork, cod, chicken breast, whole milk, whole wheat bread, eggs

Question 6

L- Carnitine Therapeutics

Answer 6

• needed for creating energy from fats
• very helpful for hypothyroid
• heart disease (1-3 g/day)
• increases HDL, decreases LDL and triglycerides
• cirrhosis of the liver
• diabetes: improves utilization of glucose
• enhances weight gain and growth in premature, soy-milk fed, or vegetarian infants (250-500 mg/day)

Question 7

Cysteine

Answer 7

• a sulfur-bearing AA required for the synthesis of glutathione
• liver disease, metal toxicity, kidney stones
• dementia, Parkinson’s
• cancer, diabetes, heart disease, photosensitivity
• hair and nails are 12% cysteine
• food: duck, turkey, oatmeal, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt

Question 8

Glutathione

Answer 8

• the most abundant antioxidant in the body
• anti-aging, immune function, cancer prevention
• promotes cell membrane integrity/cancer prevention
• asthma, HIV, wound healing
• cysteine needed for synthesis
• most effective and inexpensive way to boost is NAC

Question 9

Glutamine

Answer 9

• essential during insomnia and excessive stress
• acute burns, injury
• intestinal help/leaky gut repair, IBD
• alternate source of energy for the brain
• helps prevent carb cravings
• essential for B3 synthesis
• glutamic acid sources: cheese, pork, yogurt, whole milk, turkey, egg

Question 10

L-Lysine

Answer 10

• essential AA
• degraded to acetyl CoA
• immune function, cold sores, herpes virus, osteoporosis
• metabolism requires B2, B3, B6
• must be in balance with arginine (long term supplementation can imbalance relationship)
• synthesis of connective tissue, NTs, carb metabolism
• 500-4,000 mg/day therapeutic levels
• herpes simplex: 3,000-9,000 mg/day therapeutic 500-1,500 mg/day preventative
• foods: tuna, turkey, salmon, cheese, sardines, yogurt, red beans

Question 11

Methionine

Answer 11

• essential AA
• converted to SAMe, important antidepressant
• passes easily through BBB, helps brain function
• cartilage health, antioxidant
• RDA: 10 mg/kg body weight
• foods: avocado, cheddar, cooked shrimp, tuna, egg, whole milk

Question 12

SAMe

Answer 12

• S-adenosyl methionine
• used for depression (400-1600 mg/daily) esp. postpartum and drug withdrawal
• osteoarthritis: 400 mg - reduce after 1 week
• pain control, fibromyalgia
• detox, liver disease, allergies

Question 13

Phenylalanine

Answer 13

• essential AA
• L-phenylalanine: precursor to tyrosine, dopamine, norepi, epi (excitatory)
• found free in the bloodstream or as part of other proteins, peptides and NTs
• deficiencies may lead to depression, lack of drive, diminished growth
• DLPA used for some forms of depression (1-8 mg/day)
• do not use if anxiety is a concern
• osteoarthiritis, chronic low back pain, menstrual pain, migraines
• Parkinson’s: 750 mg/3x/day (helps reduce rigidity and depression, not tremors)
• foods: chicken, cottage cheese, wild game, pork, oatmeal, yogurt)

Question 14

Tryptophan

Answer 14

• essential AA, least abundant AA in foods
• tryptophan —> 5HTP —> serotonin —> melatonin
• precursor to B3
• pain syndromes, PMS, anxiety/panic
• anorexia, bulimia
• suppresses carb cravings
• RDA: 200 mg/day but increase with age
• deficiencies may lead to pellagra, depression (1-3 g), suicidal thoughts, insomnia (0.5-2 g)
• foods: cottage cheese, beef liver, turkey, salmon, peanuts, toasted wheat germ, avocado
• take with some carbs to stimulate insulin secretion

Question 15

Tyrosine

Answer 15

• precursor to dopamine, norepi, epi, thyroid hormones
• can be synthesized from L-phenylalanine in body
• involved in synthesis of pain relievers and melanin
• RDA: 7.3 mg/pound body weight/day (1 g/day)
• deficiencies —> hypothyroidism, depression, low adrenal function
• increases libido
• foods: toasted wheat germ, turkey, wild game, cottage cheese, whole milk, egg

Question 16

Tyrosine Therapeutics

Answer 16

• depression with flat affect and no anxiety: 1-6 g/day
• narcolepsy: 3-4 g/day for 6 months
• athletic performance, stress/adrenal burnout
• increased sex drive
• decreased appetite
• addictions: specifically cocaine, caffeine, nicotine
• contraindications: mania, schizophrenia, melanoma

Question 17

Amino Acid Therapeutics

Answer 17

• AAs are the building blocks of NTs
• range of dosage generally 500-3000 mg/day, depending on AA
• for therapeutic use, take AAs away from meals to prevent competition for absorption