Amino Acids Flashcards
1
Q
- What is most abundant amino acid?
A
- Glutamine
2
Q
- Name 3 functions of Glutamine?
A
Intestinal permeability and tight junctions – IBD, Autoimmune
Immunity- lymphocyte and macrophage proliferation- recurrent infections
Hypoglycemia- substrate for gluconeogenesis
Neurotransmitter- Glutamine converted to glutamate which is converted to GABA
3
Q
- How does Glutamine help intestinal cells integrity?
A
- Can be used by tumours as an energy source for growth
4
Q
- Why is Glutamine not recommended as a supplement in cancer patients?
A
- Glutamine is rapidly dividing cells e.g. enterocytes fuel and regulates intestinal permeability
5
Q
- List 5 things that support intestinal tight junctions and regulate permeability
A
- Increase glutamine rich foods e.g. cabbage broth, increase zinc rich foods, increase quercetin e.g. apples and red onions, increase bone broth (collagen, glucosamine, chondritin)
6
Q
- What additional nutrients/a.as are required for conversion of Glutamate to GABA?
A
- Taurine, B6 and Zinc
7
Q
- What amino acids and vitamins are required to make Cysteine?
A
- Methionine, Serine, B6, 9, 12
8
Q
- What is best form for supplementing cysteine?
A
- N-Acetyl Cysteine
9
Q
- Food sources of cysteine
A
- Sesame seeds, eggs, legumes
10
Q
- Functions and therapeutic uses of cysteine
A
- Liver detox- sulfation pathway, building block of glutathionine, antiox properties
T.u: Heavy metal detox, liver support, healthy aging
Respiratory health- expectorant properties- breaking up mucous- breaking disulphide bonds in mucoproteins
Reproductive health- increase sperm concentration
Insulin resistance- increases insulin sensitivity
11
Q
- Why would you use carnitine for weight loss?
A
- Carnitine facilitates transport of LCFAs across cell membrane so that they can be oxidised to create ATP
12
Q
- What is function of methionine?
A
- Methionine is the major methyl donor in the body for methyl reactions e.g. homocysteine and sulfation pathway in liver detoxification
13
Q
- Food sources of Glycine?
A
- Sesame seeds, kale, spinach, eggs
14
Q
- Why is glycine conditionally essential?
A
- Needed in times of metabolic stress e.g increased haem synthesis, collagen formation and glycine conjugation
15
Q
- What cofactors are required for the production of Glycine
A
- Serine and B6