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20 Kinds of Amino Acids that Support the Body
Each amino acid has various functions
There are as many as 100 thousand kinds of proteins that constitute the body, and these comprise only 20 kinds of amino acids in various combinations. These 20 kinds of amino acids are essential to the body. In addition to being the materials for proteins, they are used as an energy source for the body as necessary.
Further, each amino acid plays an important and unique role in the body. The list below shows the role of each amino acid.
| Valine Leucine Isoleucine |
All of these 3 amino acids are called branched chain amino acid (BCAAs). They perform the important functions of increasing proteins and serving as an energy source during exercise. | more info. |
|---|---|---|
| Alanine | It is an important amino acid as an energy source for the liver. | more info. |
| Arginine | It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of blood vessels and other organs. | more info. |
| Glutamine | It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of the gastrointestinal tract and muscles. | more info. |
| Lysine | It is a representative essential amino acid and tends to be insufficient when we are on a bread- or rice-centered diet. | more info. |
| Aspartic acid | It is contained in asparagus in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source. | more info. |
| Glutamate | It is contained in wheat and soybean in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source. | more info. |
| Proline | It is the main component of "collagen" which constitutes the skin and other tissues. It serves as a fast-acting energy source. | more info. |
| Cysteine | Cysteine is easy to be deficient in the infants. | more info. |
| Threonine | It is an essential amino acid which is used to form active sites of enzymes. | |
| Methionine | It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various substances needed in the body. | |
| Histidine | It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce histamine and others. | |
| Phenylalanine | It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines. | |
| Tyrosine | It is used to produce various useful amines and is sometimes called aromatic amino acid together with phenylalanine and tryptophan. | |
| Tryptophan | It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines. | |
| Asparagine | It is an amino acid which is located close to the TCA cycle (place of energy generation) together with aspartic acid. | |
| Glycine | It is used to produce glutathione and porphyrin, a component of hemoglobin. | |
| Serine | It is used to produce phospholipids and glyceric acid. |