Non-essential amino acids are just as important as essential amino acids. The only real difference is that our body can synthesize non-essential amino acids. This leads to common misconception that non-essential amino acids deficiency is not possible. Sadly, this is not true.
To synthesize non-essential amino acids our body needs sufficient amount of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and minerals and vitamins to drive the process. Without them our body cannot synthesize non-essential amino acids, and we end up with a deficiency. So while rare, non-essential amino acid deficiency is possible, especially in nutrient poor diets.
To get a better picture of how poor nutrient intake can affect non-essential amino acid synthesis let’s look at their deficiencies:
Alanine Deficiency
- Hypoglycemia
- Physical weakness,
- Seizures,
- Low growth hormone levels,
- Extreme fatigue,
- Elevated insulin
- Low glycogen levels
- Fuzzy thinking
Arginine Deficiency
- Poor wound healing
- Hair loss
- Skin rash
- Constipation
- Fatty liver
Asparagine Deficiency
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Depression
- Irritability
- Psychosis
Aspartate Deficiency
- Poor urea production
- Poor ammonia elimination
- Ammonia toxicity
- Reduced liver function
Cysteine Deficiency
- Retarded growth
- Apathy
- Hair color loss
- Edema
- Lethargy
- Liver damage
- Muscle loss
- Skin lesions
- Weakness
- Fat loss
Glutamate Deficiency
- Reduced neurotransmitter activity
- Apathy
- Social withdrawal
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Poor attention span
- Auditory hallucinations
Glutamine Deficiency
- Increased toxins sensitivity
- Intestines inflammation
- Food allergies
- Joint inflammation
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes
- Impaired immune system function
- Poor wound healing
- Slow illness recovery
Glycine Deficiency
- Impaired immune response
- Slow healing time
- Muscle loss
- Diarrhea
- Mucosal ulceration
- Intestinal necrosis
Proline Deficiency
- Ear-ringing
- Tendonitis
- Joint swelling
- Heart problems
- Skin problems
- Food allergies (long-term deficiency) to rice, cinnamon, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, watermelon, wine, and pumpkins
Serine Deficiency
- Seizures
- Olfactory hallucinations
- Abnormal muscle movement
- Low plasma Glycine levels
Tyrosine Deficiency
- Muscle loss
- General weaknes,
- Low protein levels
- Mood disorders
- Liver damage.
- Hypothyroidism
- Low body temperature
- Low blood pressure
- Depression.
- Restless leg syndrome.
Even if unlikely, non-essential amino acid deficiency is possible and can have devastating consequences. To prevent it make sure you eat a healthy diet. Provide your body with enough nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, vitamins and minerals.
Do not starve yourself to loose weight. Starvation limits the nutrients you need to synthesize amino acids. Body, like the brave little soldier it is, will try to compensate by breaking down your organs, tissues and muscles to obtain nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon. Like any other source, these too will eventually get depleted. So eat right, take supplements and move more. Because, some risks just aren’t worth taking.
For more guidelines on how to balance healthy diet with physical activity and get the right nutritional support consult Herbal Diet today.
