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Amino Acid Supplements - What You Need to Know About Their Purpose and Function

Chemistry students know everything about amino acids but with other people, they might only learn or hear about them through books, television, and other information media.

Undoubtedly, I can say amino acid supplements are important that must be given special attention if you truly want to build big muscles. Why is this so? What’s the big deal about them? Well, let me help you answer these questions through this article that tackles everything that you need to know about amino acids briefly and accurately.

In the study of chemistry, amino acids are considered as the “building blocks” of the body. They are actually the molecular units that comprise proteins. These proteins are various compositions of 20 specific naturally occurring amino acids.

Their important functions include the formation of antibodies to fight invading bacteria and viruses, construction of nucleoproteins, build up of cells and repair of tissues, transportation of oxygen in the entire body, and participation in muscle activity.

They are also a part of the enzyme and hormonal system. Now you can see why it is an important part of bodybuilding. That's why I'm an devoted user of amino acid supplements for my muscle building program.

During the process of digestion, protein is being broken down resulting to 20 popular amino acids. These amino acids are encoded by the standard genetic code and are called standard or proteinogenic amino acids. The more complicated ones called nonstandard amino acids are being produced rarely by the body.

Top 5 Amino Acid Supplements

	ISS Research Complete Amino 2200 Bodybuilders can especially benefit from supplementing amino acids because they aid in repair, growth, and development of muscle tissue.
	SciVation Xtend Xtend is a scientific blend of energy aminos consisting of the proven ratio of branched chain amino acids, glutamine, citrulline malate, and vitamin B6 that will give you the energy you need to maximize your training while enhancing recovery at the same time.
	Universal Animal Nitro Animal Nitro is the first and only supplement that contains the correct ratios of those aminos based on human muscle protein itself. This complex of aminos is appropriately called Human Muscle Protein Complex (HMPC).
	Optimum Amino 2222 Softgels Getting enough amino acids is an important factor in maintaining good nutrition. Each two softgel serving of Superior Amino 2222 Softgels provides 2,000 milligrams of high quality amino acids.
	Twinlab Amino Fuel Liquid A fast acting, easily digested liquid concentrate providing L-carnitine, branched chain amino acids (L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine) and pharmaceutical grade, peptide bonded and free amino acids.

Eight of The 20 Standard Amino Acids Are Called Essential

Why?...because they cannot be produced by the body, they must be taken in with food for production. In humans, the essential amino acids are lysine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and phenylalanine.

Even though only 20 amino acids are more known, over 100 have been found in nature. Some of them are found in meteoritic material. Other amino acids contained in proteins are usually formed by protein synthesis or post-translational modification that are often essential for the function of the protein.

Amino Acid Chart

Essential Amino Acids	Nonessential Amino Acids
Histidine	Alanine
Isoleucine	Arginine
Leucine	Asparagine
Lysine	Aspartic Acid
Methionine	Cysteine
Phenylalanine	Glutamic Acid
Threonine	Glutamine
Tryptophan	Glycine
Valine	Proline
	Serine
	Tyrosine

In addition to amino acids for protein synthesis, there are other biologically important amino acids namely: carnitine, ornithine, citrulline, sarcosine, homocysteine, hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, GABA, glutamate, and neurotransmitters glycine.

Amino Acids Backbone Establishes the
Principal Order of Protein

But the nature of the side chains determines its properties. Side chains can either be polar, non-polar or practically neutral. Polar side chains are likely to be present on the surface of a protein where they can relate with the aqueous environment found in cells.

On the contrary, the non-polar versions are more likely to inhabit inside the center of the protein where they can relate with similar non-polar neighbors.

This case can produce a hydrophobic region within an enzyme where chemical reactions can be performed in a non-polar atmosphere. Similarly, polar substituents can also be contained by enzymes within the active site that give a polar region the way to undergo biochemical synthesis.

In terms of the chemical nature, all peptides and polypeptides are polymers of alpha-aminos that are relevant to the make-up of mammalian proteins. Several others are found in the body free or in combined states, those that are not associated with peptides or proteins that usually perform specialized functions. Several found in proteins, on the other hand, also serve functions different from the formation of peptides and proteins in the formation of thyroid hormones or glutamate where they act as a neurotransmitter.

Attached to the alpha-carbon, distinct R-groups are the ones that differentiate one from another. In solution, the nature of the R-groups dictates the function structure relationships of peptides and proteins. The hydrophobic aminos will normally come out in the interior of proteins shielded from direct contact with water.

On the other hand, the hydrophilic aminos are usually found on the exterior of proteins and in the active centers of enzymatically active proteins. Indeed, it is the very nature of certain R-groups that allows enzyme reactions to occur.

The Bottom Line

Just remember, you should not load up on amino acid supplements unless it contains all eight essential aminos. If you take too much of one or two and do not include the complete essential eight, you could possibly create some serious deficiencies. That is why it is important to try a good supplement because they are most proficient for building muscle.