Amino Acids Chart
| Amino Acid | Major Functions |
|---|---|
| Alanine | Helps the body synthesize pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) |
| Arginine | Used to treat excess ammonia in the blood because of liver disease; stimulates human growth hormone |
| Asparagine | Acts likea drug that promotes the release of urine; found in many proteins in the body |
| Aciaspartic | Helps detoxify liver, may increase stamina and resistance to fatigue |
| Carnitine | Helps the body produce energy from food |
| Cysteine | An important source of sulfur for many body actions |
| Glutamine | Affects mental processes, mental health |
| Glycine | Found in many animal and plant proteins; necessary for musle contraction; helps build musle tissue |
| Histidine | Found in histamine (a vasodilator); acids in the productionof gastric jucies; affects digestion |
| *Isoleucine | Necessary for proper growth in infants and nitrogen balance in adults; essential for hemoglobin formation |
| *Leucine | Affects blod sugar levels; essential for optimal growth in infants and nitrogen balance in adults |
| *Lysine | Promotes growth, tissue repair, production of antibodies, hormones and enzymes |
| *Methionine | Used in the treatment of liver disease |
| *Phenylalanine | Induces significant increases in nor-epinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine |
| Proline | A constituent of collagen; helps heal cartilage; improves skin texture |
| Serine | Affects metabolism |
| Taurine | Regulates nervous system and muscles |
| *Threonine | Helps maintain protein balance |
| *Tryptophan | Is the base of seratonin and niacin; affects mood, ability to sleep, produces B complex vitamins |
| Tyrosine | Is the base for melanin, making the color of skin, and several hormones; affects mood |
| *Valine | Acts as a stimulant |
Essential amino acids: Humans cannot manufacture - must be obtained from the foods we eat.