2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Amino acids are the main building blocks of proteins in the human body. They play an important role in the development of muscles and in the course of a number of processes in the body. In fact, there are about 170 amino acids, but only 20 of them are part of proteins.
Alanine is a replaceable / non-essential / amino acid that performs a number of important functions in the body. It belongs to the group of replaceable acids, which means that the body can only produce alanine if it needs it.
Alanine is a particularly important amino acid for maintaining blood glucose levels. It is formed in the body during exercise. It is responsible for the production of glucose and the release of energy needed for life processes.
When there is a lack of carbohydrates in a person's menu, alanine is synthesized from the three chain-branched amino acids - leucine, valine and isoleucine.
Sources of alanine
Very good sources of alanine are fish, red meat, eggs, dairy products, avocados. Some protein-rich plants also contain significant amounts of the amino acid.
Benefits of alanine
Alanine plays a very important role in the transport of nitrogen from peripheral tissues to the liver. Improves glucose metabolism, it is simply a carbohydrate in the body that is used to produce energy.
Alanine protects the body from the accumulation of toxic substances. One of the forms of alanine - beta alanine is a component of pantothenic acid and coenzyme A, which is a vital catalyst for the processes in the body.
Studies have shown that in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, oral administration of alanine works better than a regular bedtime diet in terms of preventing a nocturnal attack of hypoglycaemia.
Alanine is responsible for almost half of the amount of glucose produced by the liver. Thus, alanine is an important component of energy supply for the functioning of basic systems in the body.
When supplied in sufficient quantities in the body, alanine is an important source of energy for muscles, the central nervous system and the brain.
Helps in the metabolism of sugars and organic acids, helps strengthen the immune system, stimulates the production of antibodies and neutralizes toxins derived from metabolism.
When the body experiences physiological stress caused by prolonged exercise or chronic carbohydrate deficiency caused by a low-carb diet, alanine begins to be synthesized from the branched-chain amino acids that make up muscle tissue.
For this reason, it is important to know that drastic diets first attack and break down muscle mass, which can seriously endanger the health of the body - weight loss observed in low-carb diets is at the expense of muscle, not fat.
Harms from alanine
Alanine does not cause side effects in the majority of people who take it in the form of a food supplement. Patients with liver and kidney problems should not take amino acids without consulting a doctor, because unwanted complications can occur.
Most people do not need extra intake alanine in the form of food supplements. For those who use this amino acid as a supplement, the daily dose should be determined by a specialist.
