Amino Acids Indications

Question 1

Arginine

Answer 1

Uses: immunodeficiency, male infertility, wound healing, GABA precursor

Avoid: herpes

Question 2

Histidine

Answer 2

Uses: anemia, RA, allergy

Question 3

Isoleucine, Leucine, Valine

Answer 3

BCAAs

Uses: muscle strength/endurance/stamina, Huntington’s chorea (with niacin) (?)

FYI: BCAAs are significantly reduced by insulin, so don’t eat high glucose foods before working out

Question 4

Lysine

Answer 4

Uses: HSV, decreases TGs, forms collagen/connective tissue

“Lysine lyses herpes” – inhibits viral growth

Food: meat, milk, fish, animal foods

Question 5

Methionine/SAMe

Answer 5

Met: reduce cholesterol, antioxidant, helps with hair skin nails due to sulfur

SAMe: hyperestrogenism, alcoholism, OA, depression

FYI: SAMe can be used as monotherapy for depression

Question 6

Phenylalanine

Answer 6

Uses: antidepressant, Parkinson’s, enhances mood, thought, concentration, memory, vitiligo

Avoid in PKU

Phenylalanine –> tyrosine –> L-DOPA, thyroxine, melanin

Question 7

Threonine

Answer 7

Brain: alcoholism, epilepsy, depression, MS, ALS, detoxification

Question 8

Tryptophan

Answer 8

Uses: depression, insomnia, pain, migraines, anxiety (precurosr to serotonin)

Intx: SSRIs, St. John’s Wort

FYI: needs B6 in the P5P form to be converted to serotonin

Question 9

Alanine

Answer 9

Uses: BPH (“alan has a large prostate”)

Question 10

Aspartic Acid/Aspargagine

Answer 10

Uses: liver protective, immune function

Asparagine: increase endurance, improve fatigue, detox

Excitatory, like glutamic acid

Question 11

Cysteine

Answer 11

Cys: cataracts, heavy metal poisoning, detox, skin repair

NAC: chronic bronchitis, asthma, HIV infection, CF, detox

Question 12

Glutamate/Glutamic Acid

Answer 12

Could increase energy and stop alcohol/sugar cravings.

Tox: excess can cause cell damage.

Excitatory. Precursor to glutamin and GABA.

Question 13

Glutamine

Answer 13

Uses: ulcers, interstinal perm, IBS, IBD

Any GI pathology –> pick glutamine

Question 14

Glycine

Answer 14

Uses: onset of panic attack or anxiety, schizophrenia (inhibitory like GABA)

Tox: do not use with clozapine, other anti-pscyhotics

Question 15

Proline

Answer 15

Uses: cartilage, joint, tendon, ligament health, heart muscle support

Question 16

Serine

Answer 16

Uses: blood sugar regulation, immune support (a component of antibodies), myelin sheath support (MS)

Question 17

Taurine

Answer 17

Uses: cardiomyopathy, CHF, HTN

Stabilizes cell membranes, could use for epilepsy

Question 18

Tyrosine

Answer 18

Uses: depression, hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s

Phenylalanine –> tyrosine –> L-DOPA, thyroxine, melanin

P5P required for conversion to L-DOPA