What are the effects of amino acids

Amino acids are the basic units of proteins, which are mainly used to compose large amounts of proteins in humans and animals and replenish human energy. It plays an important role in human metabolism, such as synthesizing protein, converting into fat needed by the human body to supplement energy, accelerating metabolism, etc. In short, it is one of the indispensable substances for the human body and a factor inherent in the human body itself that cannot be obtained from the outside world.

The role of amino acids

1. The digestion and absorption of protein in the body is completed through amino acids: As the first nutritional element in the body, the role of protein in food nutrition is obvious, but it cannot be directly utilized in the human body. Instead, it is utilized after being converted into small amino acid molecules.

2. Play a role in nitrogen balance: When the quality and quantity of protein in the daily diet are appropriate, the amount of nitrogen ingested is equal to the amount of nitrogen excreted through feces, urine and skin, which is called total nitrogen balance. It is actually a balance between the constant synthesis and decomposition of proteins and amino acids. The daily protein intake of a normal person should be kept within a certain range. When the intake suddenly increases or decreases, the body can still adjust the protein metabolism to maintain nitrogen balance. If you consume too much protein, it will exceed the body's ability to regulate and the balance mechanism will be disrupted. If you do not eat protein at all, tissue protein in the body will still break down, and negative nitrogen balance will continue to occur. If you do not take timely measures to correct it, it will eventually lead to antibody death.

3. Converted into sugar or fat: The a-keto acid produced by the decomposition of amino acids is metabolized through the metabolic pathway of sugar or fat depending on its different characteristics. α-Keto acid can be synthesized into new amino acids, or converted into sugar or fat, or enter the tricarboxylic acid cycle to be oxidized and decomposed into CO2 and H2O, releasing energy.

4. Participate in the formation of enzymes, hormones, and some vitamins: The chemical nature of enzymes is protein (composed of amino acid molecules), such as amylase, pepsin, cholesteryl esterase, carbonic anhydrase, transaminase, etc. The components of nitrogen-containing hormones are proteins or their derivatives, such as growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenaline, insulin, intestinal hormone, etc. Some vitamins are converted from amino acids or combined with proteins. Enzymes, hormones, and vitamins play a very important role in regulating physiological functions and catalyzing metabolic processes.

5. The human body's requirement for essential amino acids: Adults' requirement for essential amino acids is approximately 20% to 37% of their protein requirement.