2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Amino acids are protein building blocks from which the body can, among other things, produce its own proteins. Protein building blocks are used for other purposes and the production of other important substances. The whole metabolism also depends on the presence of different amino acids. Therefore, their deficits can have an effect on a wide variety of areas of our body.
Most amino acids were discovered in the 19th century. The earliest isolated amino acid is asparagine, which is found in asparagus and has an important function to bind toxic substances in the body. Humans learned to synthesize amino acids in the twentieth century, for which they were awarded more than one Nobel Prize.
In medical practice, the term amino acid deficiency usually used to denote low plasma levels or insufficient flow of specific amino acids.
Essential amino acids are divided into replaceable (insignificant) and irreplaceable. It is these terms that often cause much confusion in the discussion of amino acids. Everyday logic dictates: "irreplaceable" is much more important than those that can be replaced.
In fact, we are talking about the fact that non-essential amino acids, if necessary, are synthesized by the body itself. These are:
- glutamine and glutamic acid;
- asparagine;
- serine;
- tyrosine;
- glycine;
- proline;
- cystine;
- cysteine;
- alanine;
- arginine;
- aspartic acid.
The other nine, called irreplaceable, must be obtained from the diet:
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- isoleucine;
- tryptophan;
- methionine;
- phenylalanine;
- valine;
- threonine;
- histidine;
- leucine
- lysine.
Scientists tend to believe that in the course of evolution, those acids that are essential for the maintenance of life were synthesized by the body itself. There is also an opposite version, according to which protein organisms have not learned to produce certain amino acids, but on the contrary, abandon this skill, given that it is more profitable to depend on an external source of the substance. So replaceables are conditionally more important. Conditionally, because essential and non-essential amino acids are closely related. Often the presence of irreplaceables is necessary for the production of replaceables and vice versa. For example, "non-essential" serine is involved in the biosynthesis of "basic" tryptophan and methionine.
What can cause amino acid deficiency?
What happens if there are not enough amino acids in the body? The main reason is poor nutrition. In areas where the base of the diet is low in amino acids, cereals (not to mention people who eat mostly canned and frozen foods), this imbalance leads to many diseases. Amino acid deficiency it can also occur not only as a result of poor nutrition. Sometimes this can be a consequence of addiction. The amino acid valine helps to correct the situation. Amino acid deficiency can also be due to disease or heredity. In these cases it is necessary to seek medical help.
Because amino acids are responsible for the construction and metabolism of cells and the whole body, their deficiencies can be expressed in a wide variety of symptoms that are difficult to systematize. Some examples:
- Lack of histidine leads to a decrease in the production of hemoglobin in the bone marrow;
- Isoleucine deficiency leads to a condition similar to hypoglycaemia: fatigue, constant hunger, nervous tremor, profuse sweating;
- If the body of an adult lacks the essential amino acid lysine, it can very quickly lead to death, as the nitrogen balance is disturbed. Lack of lysine interferes with normal growth in children;
- Lack of tryptophan not only leads to sleep disorders and overexcitation of the central nervous system, a violation of tryptophan metabolism can lead to a number of serious diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes. Tryptophan deficiency leads to serotonin deficiency associated with depression and emotional imbalance;
- Improper synthesis of phenylalanine leads to severe inherited disease of phenyletonuria, in which there is internal intoxication of the body and disorders of the nervous system;
- The building amino acids Glycine and Serine also play a role in our mental balance. Disadvantages are associated with depression and nervous tension.
Essential amino acids lysine and methionine, for example, form the vitamin-like substance carnitine. Carnitine is important for energy metabolism and fat burning. We also need protein building blocks for the production of thyroid hormones and for many metabolic functions. Therefore, amino acid deficiency can become noticeable in different parts of the body.
Various studies also show that the immune system of the human body suffers from insufficient supply of amino acids. This damage to the immune system can be explained by deficiencies of tryptophan, methionine and lysine, but also isoleucine and valine, which are associated with the level of our plasma glutamine. Glutamine is thought to play a key role in our body's immune defenses.
Another possible consequence of aminodeficiency is often underestimated. Our body as a whole depends on an adequate supply of protein. Proteins are not only one of the three essential macronutrients, but they are also the basis of our entire body tissue. If due to the lack of amino acids too little of the body's own protein is produced, our body returns to the existing body proteins. This can lead to the breakdown of our muscles, for example.
How to get amino acids
To compensate for the lack of amino acids, modern science has developed various drugs. Some of them are widely used as dietary supplements (the most famous is the undeservedly negative reputation of monosodium glutamate, which is nothing more than the sodium salt of glutamic acid), others are introduced into pharmacological preparations used as drugs (eg methionine is used as a drug for atherosclerosis and liver disease).
Every amino acid needs helpers. Examples of other substances that support the work of amino acids:
- Magnesium: supports many functions and effects of protein, partially binds to proteins and regulates the work of the building blocks of protein through the body's own receptor sites. Therefore, the lack of this mineral impairs the function of amino acids;
- Fatty acids and coenzymes: form non-essential amino acids in the liver.
Meat remains the main source of amino acids
This is one of the reasons why vegetarians and vegans suffer more often from amino acid deficiencies.
Compared to vitamins and other trace elements found in plant foods, amino acids are a more stable component. In particular, they are melted only at a temperature of 250 ° C, which means that despite the heat treatment, the meat retains the beneficial properties of a source of amino acids.
However, there are rules for eating meat, most of which, alas, are not always followed. You can be sure of the quality and proper preparation of the meat (ie eat "healthy" meat) if it is not cooked at extremely high temperatures. There are other subtleties, it is preferable to cook on steam or at low temperature in the oven. Do not eat steamed meat still hot.
The benefits of improperly frozen food are small. The best option is chilled meat in a vacuum package: in this way it retains fresh properties for up to 90 days.
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