Amino Acids: Complete Guide

Amino acids are small organic compounds that the body uses as building blocks and metabolic intermediates. The most useful way to understand supplements is to first understand the food-and-protein system they sit inside.

Essential, nonessential and conditionally essential

Essential amino acids must come from the diet. Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the body under typical conditions. Some amino acids can become conditionally essential in specific physiological or disease states.

Amino acids inside proteins

Dietary proteins are chains of amino acids. Digestion breaks proteins down so amino acids and small peptides can be absorbed and reused.

BCAAs

Leucine, isoleucine and valine are grouped as branched-chain amino acids because of their chemical structure. Their popularity in sports nutrition does not make them a complete substitute for all essential amino acids.

Supplements

Free-form amino-acid products can be convenient, but product quality should be judged by transparent labeling, sensible dosing, third-party evidence where relevant and realistic claims.

Continue this topic

• Essential Amino Acids: Complete Guide
• What Do Essential Amino Acids Do?
• EAA vs BCAA