Amino acids
are the building blocks of all life forms and also the
chemical basis for all proteins. Proteins are one of the
biggest components of our bodies. Our bodies use amino acids
to form proteins, which build everything from muscles and
bones, skin and hair, to internal organs and fluids.
Besides building cells and repairing tissue, they form
antibodies to combat invading bacteria & viruses;
they are part of the enzyme & hormonal system; they build
nucleoproteins (RNA & DNA); they carry oxygen throughout
the body and participate in muscle activities.
What are Essential and
Non-essential Amino Acids?
There are totally about
20 amino acids. These can be divided into two
basic groups:
Essential and
Non-essential
The essential amino acidsare those,
which the body cannot produce. It is obtained only through
diet or external supplementation.
Those Amino Acids, which are produced in the body with
the help of Essential Amino Acids are known as Non-essential
Amino Acids.
What is the importance of
Essential Amino Acids?
For the formation of
body proteins all Essential Amino Acids has be present
in sufficient quantities at the same time. Even if one
Essential Amino Acid is deficient or absent then the
body protein synthesis will be affected.
Ultimately body is dependent on food
for its Amino Acid requirements. Even though it can
make its own non Essential Amino Acids from other Amino
Acids, for proper body protein formation, it is highly
dependent on dietary source of Amino Acids.
Amino Acids, especially the Essential Amino Acids, are
to be obtained from external sources only, failing which
Amino Acid deficiencies will occur. More over not all
food contains all Essential Amino Acids in sufficient
amounts.
What is role of Amino
Acids in clinical conditions?
Injury :
In the case of injury, the cells are destroyed at
the site of injury. Further there will be blood
loss too. Basically, the cell membrane and cytoplasm
in cell are made up of proteins. New cells can be
formed only with the help of amino acids.
Convalescence
:
After prolonged illness when a patient is recovering,
he is said to be in a state of convalescence. At
this state for the normal functioning of body, body
proteins such as enzymes, hormones etc. are to be
formed for which Amino Acids specifically, the Essential
Amino Acids are required.
Diabetes
:
Diabetes is a carbohydrate disorder, where the body is unable to utilise
glucose as energy source and breaks down body protein into free Amino Acids
and utilise them for energy. Owing to the nature of the disease, people suffering
from Diabetes are on a restricted diet which eventually may lead to poor immuno competence.
Hence, supplementation of Amino Acids helps maintain the nutritional status of the patient.
Alcoholism
:
Chronic Alcoholics don’t eat nutritious food. Whatever they eat,
just fill the space in the stomach and don’t contribute for energy release.
Further, their liver will be affected which in turn affects the normal metabolism.
Providing Amino Acids not only corrects the metabolic function but also serves as
additional energy source.
Growth :
Since the cell membrane and cytoplasm are made up of body proteins,
body needs Amino Acids for proper growth of the cells. Even for the
periodic replacement of cells like RBC that has a life span of 120 days
and WBC with a life span of 14 days, Amino Acids are required by the body.
Pregnancy & Lactation :
During pregnancy, various activities in the body of the expectant mother
is altered. As the foetus grows, the nutritional requirement of the expectant
mother also increases. Supplementation of Amino Acids helps improve the mother’s
nutritional status. Further, during lactation, for the breast to secrete milk
(which is also a body protein) Amino Acids are needed.
Amazing facts about Amino
Acids:
Amino acids account for 75% of
dry body weight (total weight minus water weight).
All protein, 100%, is made up
of amino acids... and proteins regulate nearly every
biochemical reaction in the body.
Human body needs all twenty-two
amino acids to make the 50,000-plus proteins present
in the body.
Amino acids make the many enzymes,
hormones, neurotransmitters, and other chemical
messengers that regulate the body.
Some individual amino acids can
help health problems, including heart disease, insomnia,
and herpes.
100% of neurotransmitters, such
as norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine,
aspartate, glutamate, are made of amino acids.
100% of hormones are made up
of amino acids. Sex hormones are made up of amino
acids plus fat or lipids.
100% of neuropeptides, the substances
the brain releases with every thought, are amino
acids.
100% of peptides are made up
of amino acids.
95% of muscle is made up of amino
acids.
Amino Acids are the major contents
of the involuntary muscles present in the heart.
