Amino Acids
As we all know that Amino acids, are referred to as the building blocks of proteins, and are considered as compounds that play multiple significant roles in our body. Their vital functions may include but not limited to, building of proteins, repairs body tissue, helps in growth, breaks down food, synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters. They can also be used as a source of energy by our body.
Based on the requirement, they can also be taken as a supplement form to boost performance or improve mood especially in case of athletics.
How are they classified?
Amino acids are categorized as
- Essential amino acids
- Nonessential amino acids
- Conditional amino acids
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
- Essential amino acids must come from food as they cannot be made by the body.
- The 9 essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
- All the above nine essential amino acids perform numerous roles in our body and they are involved in vital processes such as tissue growth, energy production, immune function and nutrient absorption.
Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are referred to as ‘complete proteins.’
Complete protein sources include:
- Meat
- Seafood
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Dairy Products
- Soy, quinoa and buckwheat are plant-based foods that contain all nine essential amino acids, making them complete protein sources as well.
- Other proteins from plant sources such as beans and nuts are considered incomplete, as they lack one or more of the essential amino acids.
Health benefits of having essential amino acids in our diet include -
- Can boost exercise performance
- Helps in improving sleep and aids in good mood
- Can prevent muscle loss
- May helps in weight loss
NONESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
Nonessential amino acids by name itself suggests that our bodies can produce the amino acid, even if we do not get it from the food we eat.
Nonessential amino acids include: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine.
CONDITIONAL AMINO ACIDS
- Conditional amino acids are usually not essential, except in times of illness and stress.
- Conditional amino acids include: arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and serine
Eurofins comprehensive portfolio for amino acid analysis
Eurofins is the global leader in amino acid testing offering a wide variety of methods that can quickly and accurately quantify the amino acids present in almost any sample (food testing). Eurofins has established standard and accurate methods in testing for free amino acids as well as the bound molecules in peptide form. Our technical expertise and market knowledge allow our clients to verify compliance with the latest regulations in each country and market, both for raw materials and finished goods.
The Eurofins Advantage
- Competence Centres with state-of-the-art equipment such as GC, HPLCs, GCMSMS, FTIR, ELISA, GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, Real-time PCR and NMR systems
- Rapid turn-around time (TAT)
- Local contact with a Global Network
- Active participation in industry associations and regulatory bodies allowing early
- advice on potential food scares and legal obligations
- Expert advice – advanced testing schemes, regular on-site-check for hygiene and
- allergens, labelling advice and traceability
- Reliable results
- Strong International presence
