Nutritional studies have shown that dietary supplementation of several amino acids can modulate gene expression, promote growth of the small intestine and skeletal muscle, or reduce excess body fat. In recent years, functional amino acids have received increasing attention, which refers to those amino acids that participate in and regulate key metabolic pathways to improve the health, survival, growth, development, lactation and reproduction of an organism. Functional amino acids hold great promise in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, intestinal and neurological dysfunction, etc.
Types of Amino Acids
Among the 20 amino acids in the human body, there are 9 kinds of amino acids that cannot be synthesized by themselves are called essential amino acids and need to be taken from the diet; 11 kinds of amino acids can be synthesized from other amino acids in the body, called non-essential amino acids. However, both essential and non-essential amino acids play an important role in maintaining our lives.
The Role of Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health
- Building blocks for proteins, large peptides, and small peptides
- Regulation of gene expression, as well as micro-RNA biogenesis and levels
- Cell signaling via kinases
- Nutrient transport and metabolism
- Modulation of immune responses
- Hormone secretion and endocrine status
- Anti-oxidative defenses and removal of toxic substances
- Neurological function and behavior
- Digestive function
- Recovery from injury
- Regulation of blood flow and cardiovascular function (e.g., NO synthesis)
- Other physiological processes
Related Research Information
In skeletal muscle cells, certain EAAs act not only as substrates or building blocks for muscle protein synthesis (MPS), but also as signaling molecules for the mRNA translation machinery. The mechanism by which EAA stimulates intracellular signaling pathways in non-muscle and muscle cells has been a long-standing focus of research. The initiation of anabolic signaling is thought to follow the transmembrane transport of EAAs, particularly leucine.[1]
Sustained dynamic exercise stimulates amino acid oxidation, mainly branched-chain amino acids, and ammonia production in proportion to exercise intensity; if exercise is intense enough, there is a net loss of muscle protein. Some amino acids are oxidized for fuel, while the rest provide a base for gluconeogenesis substances, and possibly for acid-based regulation. [2]
Studies have shown that many of the mechanisms by which amino acids initiate certain functions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as supporting the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa, are related to traditional concepts of hormone release and activation of the nervous system. But most of these effects are not direct.
Amino acids appear to function by binding to chemical communication systems such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate signaling pathways. These intracellular signals, responsible for neuronal activity and hormone release, regulate gastrointestinal function. [3]
References
- W Kyle Mitchell. (2016). "Human Skeletal Muscle Protein Metabolism Responses to Amino Acid Nutrition." Advances in Nutrition 7(4), 828S–838S.
- Michael J. Rennie. (2000). "Protein And Amino Acid Metabolism During and After Exercise and The Effects of nutrition." Annual Review of Nutrition 20, 457–483.
- Ana San Gabriel. (2012). "Amino acid sensing in the gastrointestinal tract." Amino Acids 45, 451–461.
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