Amino Acids, The origin of life

What are Amino Acids?

 The structure of all living things is protein and the building blocks for all proteins are amino acids. Amino Acids are strung together like little beads in a specific order dictated by coded DNA. mRNA and tRNA (messenger RNA and transcript RNA) with the code from DNA can string free form amino acids together to form new proteins at the rate of about 5 per second. Alt tissues hormones and enzymes in our bodies are made with Amino Acids. All Amino Acids are constructed to a basic design. A central carbon atom is bonded to and amino group to a carboxyl group to a hydrogen atom and then to one variable group called a side chain. It is the side chain that gives Amino Acids their individuality.

Where do Amino Acids come from?

 Most of the Amino Acids needed in humans to manufacture new proteins can be synthesized in the liver from other sources. The Amino Acids that we cannot synthesize from other sources in the human body are called the essential Amino acids and must come from outside sources which is generally the food we eat. (Supplements would be the exception). These essential amino acids generally include: Arginine, Histidine, Isoluesine, Lucine.Valine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, and Tryptophan.

We must also consider the fact that if we could not manufacture one of the non essential Amino Acids from the sources available in the human body then it too would become an essential amino acid. Sometimes this may occur from malabsorption and liver dysfunction problems or use of certain drugs which may inhibit synthesis of certain Amino Acids. Most foods contain Amino Acids. The Amino Acids contained in our food are hooked together in what we call peptide bonds. Although we manufacture hundreds of peptides in our bodies that have specific function, dietary peptides may not and therefore need to be degraded or digested to free up the amino acids contained within the peptides. Amino Acids in their free or isolated form do have specific function in the human body and can also be reconstructed into peptides that have specific function according to our own genetic code or biochemical individuality.

 Do some foods contain more Amino Acids then others?

 Yes, foods like dairy, meat, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, nuts and seeds are high in their amino acid content. Foods like vegetables, fruits and some grains and legumes may be low in certain Amino Acids (limiting amino acids) and can not by themselves furnish all of the amino acids we need to construct new proteins. These foods may need to be combined with others to complete their amino acid content.

How many different Amino Acids Are There?

Although there have been hundreds of Amino Acids discovered in nature, there are about twenty-eight commonly seen on the market today and commonly used in Amino Acid preparations.

What are D and L form Amino Acids?

 Most Amino Acids, except Glycine, can appear in two forms which are mirrored images of each other; D form and L form. The L form with rare exception are the only ones found in proteins and so the most compatible with Human chemistry. There are only a few instances in which the D form has a known function in human chemistry. For instance DL phenylalanine (used as an analgesic) and D carnitine (used in Italy for some heart complications). More study needs to be done in this area.

How much Protein should we eat per day to supply the Amino Acids we need?

 A non-stressed person may need to consume as little as .8/ kg bodyweight per day. A stressed person may require up to and exceeding 1.5 g/kg body weight per day of protein to maintain positive nitrogen balance. For example, a weight lifter weighing 200 Ibs. may require up to 150 grams of quality protein per day, where as a housewife weighing 120 Ibs. may require only 48 grams of high quality protein a day to maintain positive nitrogen balance and promote good health.

Do We Need To Supplement With Amino Acid Preparations?

Have you ever seen Jay Leno bring a centenarian on his show? The question always comes up - What did you eat to make you live so long. The answer many times - "I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, drink a pint of whiskey and eat anything I wanted. Unfortunately, we are not all so lucky as to have these strong genetics. Food should always be our first choice if possible, but there may be situations which we may need the supplementation of free Amino Acid Supplements. Gastrointestinal dysfunction, malabsorption syndrome, malnutrition, surgery, kidney and liver dysfunction, energy production problems, physiological disorders (all forms of stress) and improving muscle mass etc. In all of these cases a free form Amino Acid supplement may be of some benefit. Supplements containing peptides may not be desirable in cases of biochemical dysfunction and do not have specific function as ingested dietary peptides.

Amino Acid Supplements

Because Amino Acids are used by the human body to form all tissues, hormones, enzymes, immune bodies, energy production and proper brain function they have been called the Essence of Life. Amino Acid Supplements can be very beneficial to a higher functioning and quality of life if they have been formulated properly.  

A rule of thumb ( all symptoms of deficiency are the same as overdose) .

By: Brian Greenhouse

President, Cyto Charge Inc.