Amino acids
Amino acid supplements can affect many different systems in the body. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, peptides and polypeptides. People need amino acids for physiological processes in the body. The amino acids that are not produced by the body itself, enter the body through food. These amino acids are also called essential amino acids.
Effect of amino acids
A large part of our body, especially the muscles and other tissues, consists of amino acids. They are responsible for many biological processes. The cells owe their structure to amino acids, but you are important for the absorption and storage of nutrients. The regeneration process of the body and the connective tissue is also influenced by amino acids.
Essential, semi-essential and non-essential
Amino acids are indicated as essential, semi-essential and non-essential. This does not mean that one group is more important in the body than the other group. All amino acids must be present in the body in sufficient quantities, through food (essential) or through own synthesis (non-essential). Factors such as age, stress, strain, food, health influence the amount of amino acids that are available and needed and/or synthesized. The eight essential amino acids are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Arginine and histidine are semi-essential, or essential in certain circumstances. The ten non-essential amino acids are: alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine. In 2015, the last two amino acids were discovered: selenocysteine and pyrrolysine.
Single supplementation or combination
Depending on your goal, you can use individual amino acids for specific purposes or you can opt for powerful combinations. Each amino acid has its own specific effect and is therefore often used for specific indications. For example, L-tyrosine is an important precursor of dopamine and L-carnosine has a beneficial effect on the muscles. Sometimes amino acids are offered in combination, for example the BCAAs, a supplement that is often chosen by athletes. The brand Doctor's Best has nice amino acid supplements, for exampleL-Arginine,L-Theanine,Zinc-L-Carnosine,L-TyrosineandL-Carnitine Fumarate.
D and L shape
Amino acids come in two enantiomers or mirror image molecules, in an L- (laevo = left) and in a D-structure (dextro = right). Both forms have a different effect in the body. Most nutritional supplements come in the L-form because it occurs naturally in the body. Sometimes, however, the D-form is preferred precisely because of the properties of this D-form, for example inD-serinefrom Ergomax andD-phenylalaninefrom Doctor's Best. The body can produce some amino acids itself, the non-essential amino acids. The essential amino acids can only be obtained from food or supplementation.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine and N-Acetyl-Cysteine
Ergomax only sells high-quality amino acids such asacetyl-L-carnitine, which in the body mainly occurs in the muscles and the heart muscle, andn-acetyl-cysteine(NAC), a building block for the antioxidant glutathione. Also an interesting option from our own product line is for exampleCollagen Hydrolysate from Wild Cod. This contains a complete amino acid complex that is absorbed very quickly by the body. Or take a look at the unique supplementElk Velvet AntlerElk antlers from Rein Styrke, a product packed with good amino acids.
