Amino Acid Side Chains Structure Side Chain Nutritional Description Clinical Deficiency Toxicity Diet

Attached Polarity Significance Correlation

Histidine Basic or Polar basic Essential It is metabolized It is essential for Decreased Histidinemia- 1000mg; best
Amino in infants grow. urocanase can high level of taken with
neurotransmitter Usually linked cause s/s: histidine B3(niacin), B6
AA. with urocanase. learning manifest in (pyridoxine).
difficulties and blood and urea.
growth and s/s: speech From: dairy,
mental disorders and meat, poultry,
retardation. mental fish, rice, wheat.
retardation.
Isolated from Promote muscle Can cause Increased tiglic
Isoleucine Alkyl Nonpolar Essential fibrin, recovery after headache, acid can cause 10-12mg/kg/day
glucogenic, rigid exercise. dizziness, Acidosis. in balance with
ketogenic AA. fatigue, valine and
Regulation of depression, Increased leucine.
Tiglic acid- from blood sugar and confusion and isoleucine can
croton oil energy level. irritability. cause Elevated From: almonds,
(Croton tiglium) urination; cashew, liver,
can aid in MSUD. egg, fish, lentils.
breaking
isoleucine to
propionic acid.
Regulation of Beneficial for Contribute to
Leucine Alkyl Nonpolar Essential Subcomponent blood sugar and individual with pellagra and 16mg/kg/day
of buffer energy level. Phenylketonuria ammonia
proteins. Growth and (PKU). toxicity. MUSD; From: brown
muscle cell Used as s/s: mental rice, beans, nuts,
Part of 3 repair, GH flavorant, also retardation, whole wheat.
branched AA. production, highly addictive. neurological
wound healing. problem.
 Decreased lysine
Lysine Basic or Polar basic Essential From hydroxyl can cause Can cause Gallstones and 12mg/kg/day
amino lysine. increase in anemia, enzyme elevated
Serotonin level. disorders, lack cholesterol;
The basic Assist in fighting of energy, best taken with
building block of herpes simplex baldness, blood- Diarrhea and amino-glycosides
all protein. and cold sores. shot eyes. stomach Potentation
cramps. (Antibiotic:
Isolated from Required for Retarded Amikacin,
casein. growth and growth, poor Gentamicin,
bone appetite and Tetramicin.)
development. reproductive
problems as well from: cheese,
Production of as poor eggs, potato,
hormone, concentration. milk, brewer’s
antibodies, yeast, lima
enzyme, beans, meat.
collagen and
formation of
tissue.

Thronine OH Polar Essential A lipotropic Assists (Levothreonine- From: meat,

neutral agent in liver. formation of treatment for dairy, egg, wheat
collagen and ALS-Amyotropic germ, nuts,
Highly elastin in skin. Lateral Sclerosis) beans and some
concentrated in vegetable.
heart, CNS and Involved in liver Causes
skeletal muscles. functioning irritability and
combined with difficult
Used to treat NS aspartic acid and personality.
disorder. (eg. methionine.
spinal spasms.)
 Methionine Alkyl Nonpolar Essential Only Sulfur Lipotropic- Can cause With vit. B 12mg/mg/kg/day
containing AA. breakdown of dementia, fatty deficiency, high
fats (liver) and liver, slow risk of Balance with
Isolated from histamine. growth arteriosclerosis choline and
casein. weakness, (decreased inositol (energy
Important in edema, skin blood flow). producing).
Intermediate for methylation. lesions.
biosynthesis of And From:
cysteine. manufacture of
creatinine
monohydrate

Antioxidant
linked with pain
reducing
peptides.

Phenylalanine Aromatic Nonpolar Essential Exhibits Used in Lethargy, Can cause 14mg/kg/day
ultraviolet elevating mood, edema, phenylketonuria
radiation memory and weakness, skin (PKU), Can’t be taken if:
absorption. learning. lesions, liver headaches, pregnant,
Converted in damage and nausea, nerve suffering from
tyrosine- Appetite slow growth. damage and anxiety attack,
dopamine- suppressant and heart burn. HBP, diabetic,
norepinephrine. useful for PKU.
patients w/
Parkinson’s From:
disease, RA, OA,
alcohol
withdrawal and
vitiligo.
Tryptophan Aromatic Nonpolar Essential Isolated from Important in With Can cause 300-
hydrolysis of controlling magnesium gastrointestinal 600mg/kg/day;
casein. hyperactivity in deficiency can upsets,
children. cause heart headaches and Supplemental
Required for artery spasms, anxiety. 5HTP derived
production of vit. Alleviating depression. from (Griffonia
B3 (niacin) and stress, weight Improper simplicifolia)
Serotonin. loss and metabolism of
reducing ‘W’ can cause From: cottage
appetite. fructose cheese, milk, soy
malabsorption protein and
and lactose peanuts.
intolerance.

Valine Alkyl Nonpolar Essential Named after For muscle Affects the Can cause From: dairy,
plant valerian metabolism, myelin covering crawling meat, grain,
(Valerian repair and of nerves. sensation on mushroom, soy
officinalis). growth of tissue. skin and and peanuts.
hallucinations;
Isolated from Maintaining MSUD-
casein. nitrogen in improper
body. metabolism (V,
I, L)
Treating or
reversing
encephalopathy,
alcohol related
brain damage
and
degenerative
neurological
conditions.
Alanine Alkyl Nonpolar Non-essential Second to leucine a-carbon substituted Decreased Increased From:
in terms of with Levorotatory alanine can cause Alanine can Avocado,
occurrence. (II)-methyl group- BPH- Benign cause: Epstein meat, poultry,
widely used in Prostatic barr-excess level fish, egg and
7.8% of primary protein construction. Hyperplasia of ‘Y’ and ‘F’. dairy.
structure
proteins. For metabolism of Chronic fatigue
glucose and syndrome
Found in some tryptophan together
bacterial wal in w/ ‘Y’. Urgent/frequent
some peptide urination.
ABCs. (ALT- liver failure)
Increased ‘A’ w/
Incorporated with HTN- alteration
Alanine amino (ALS- liver problem in alanine cycle,
transferase- from viral infections) increasing
enzyme present serum ALT,
in liver. contributing
development of
DM.
 Arginine Basic or amino Polar basic Non-essential Isolated from Useful in enhancing Beneficial in urea Beneficial for From: carob
Lupine seed immune system for cycle neutralizing angina and HBP. (Ceratonia
extract/glutamic infants. For muscle ammonia. siliqua), whole-
acid. metabolism wheat, seeds,
Enhancing peanuts, soy,
Abundant Increases size and spermatogenesis brown rice,
protamines and activity of thymus (sexual problems popcorn,
histones. gland. and sterility). raisins and
chocolate.
Isolated from Releases insulin. A AKA: nitric oxide
animal horn. component of GH precursor, close
and release of to help BV to
New born: glucagon and dilate and t have
essential AA prolactin. better
circulation.

Asparagine Amide Polar Non-essential Isolated from Used for metabolism From: dairy,
neutral Asparagus of toxic ammonia. beef, poultry
(Asparagus and eggs.
officinalis) Required for nervous
system to maintain
Transports equilibrium
nitrogen. (panic/nervousness)
Aspartic acid Acidic or Polar acidic Non-essential Isolated from It generates Needed for RNA, Synthetic form From: dairy,
carboxyl Legumin in plant reduction (H) due to DNA functioning. yield beef, poultry,
seed. Also from NAD- Nicotinmide Production of ammonium spouting seed.
Asparagine Adenine immunoglobulin fumurate and
(oxaloacetic acid) dinucleotide. and antibodies. aspartase from
E-coli.
Negatively Important in Detoxifying
charged(acidic) construction of AA ammonia. N-type Aspartic
carboxylate and biochemical in acid- form
group. citric acid cycle Aspartain- Ribonucleotide,
(Kreb’s cycle) sweetening precursor to
Asparagine + agent. manufacture
base (NaOH) = Needed for resisting RNA and DNA.
Aspartic acid fatigue (for stamina
and neural health)

Cysteine Sulfur Nonpolar Non-essential Sulfur containing Precursor to Assists insulin From: garlic,
containing AA, derived from ‘Glutathione’, supply in onion, poultry,
‘M’ via bacterial antioxidant/detoxify pancreas. broccoli, egg,
fermentation. ing agent. wheat, red
Reduces toxic of peppers.
Makes some Strengthens stomach alcohol.
products lining against too
succeptible for much acids and
oxidation with bacteria.
presence of
reducing agent. Required to
metabolize anf
manufacture other
AA.
Glutamic Acidic or Polar acidic Non-essential Synthesized from Important excitatory Used as fuel in From:
acid carboxyl ornithine and neurotransmitter brain, it can
arginine involved with transport
cognitive functions. potassium in the
BBB.
Important in
metabolism of It can attach
sugars and fats. itself to nitrogen
atoms process
forming
glutamine.

Also detoxifies
ammonia in the
body.

Glutamine Amide Polar Non-essential Formed from Converted to Used for From: raw
neutral Glutamine + glutamic acid in synthesis of Promote wound parsley and
ammonia. brain, essential for muscle proteins. healing and spinach ( green
cerebral functions anti- leafy
AKA: Superb brain and increases GABA Used to balance inflammatory. vegetable).
fuel, smart drugs, (inhibitory NT) pH in the kidney
and serves as Present in MSG-
*GABA- ganna basis of DNA and monosodium
aminobutyric acid RNA. glutamate.

decreases
cravings for
sweets.
Glycine Alkyl Nonpolar Non-essential Aliphatic AA. Required to build Can decrease USP grade: 2g/2000mg
(no benzene ring) protein and Helicobacter increased gastric daily,
synthesis of nuclei pylori that cause absorption and protection
Sweet tasting AA, acid. PUD with the aid can act as against stroke.
isolated from of AB. buffer. IV
gelatin; found in Helps in retarding injections or
silk fibroin (for (body building). Controls sugar w/ additive.
structure). type 2 DM
Inhibitory Tech grade:
neurotransmitter in standard; anti-
brain enhancing perspiring
cognitive functions.

Proline Alkyl Nonpolar Non-essential Only AA that does Improves skin Upon Decrease
(imino) not react to texture and collagen metabolism- cardiovascular
ninhydrin sol’n formation. hydroxyproline diseases.
with blue/violet (95%) present in
color instead it is Important for connective tissue Improves choles
yellow/orange. maintenance of metabolism.
muscles and joints Brewery= proline
Isolated from and tendons making (antioxidant) Osmoprotectant
casein. it more flexible. +polyphenols. - survival from
osmotic
pressure,
 Serine OH Polar Non-essential Provides Constituent of brain Metabolism of Industrial- used From: meats,
neutral immunity. proteins and nerve fats. as insecticides dairy, wheat
coverings. (ACA-Acetyl gluten,
Isolated from Precursor of Gly, choline peanuts, soy.
sericin, a silk Involved in Cys, Y, W. inhibition)
protein. metabolism of
purines, pyrimidines, Involved in
Requires and muscle catalytic
adequate amount synthesis. reactions of
of vit. B2 (niacin), enzymes
B3 (pyridoxine), For metabolism of
B9 (folic acid). fat, tissue growth
and immune system.
Naturally know as
moisturizing Assists in production
agent. of immunoglobulin
and antibodies.

Tyrosine Aromatic Nonpolar Non-essential Precursor of Used in treatment of Decreased From: meat,
neurotransmitters cocaine abuse. tyrosine cause dairy, egg,
: epinephrine, Because of its low blood almonds,
norepinephrine, absorptive functions. pressure, low avocados,
dopamine. body bananas.
temperature, and
Oculocutaneous “Restless leg
albinism (absent syndrome”.
of pigment);
hypothyroidism