Encyclopedia of Amino Acids – 20 Kinds of Amino Acids that Support the Body

There are as many as 100 thousand kinds of proteins that constitute the body, and these comprise only 20 kinds of amino acids in various combinations. These 20 kinds of amino acids are essential to the body. In addition to being the materials for proteins, they are used as an energy source for the body as necessary.
Further, each amino acid plays an important and unique role in the body. The list below shows the role of each amino acid.

Valine
Leucine
Isoleucine All of these 3 amino acids are called branched chain amino acid (BCAAs). They perform the important functions of increasing proteins and serving as an energy source during exercise. more info.

Alanine It is an important amino acid as an energy source for the liver. more info.

Arginine It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of blood vessels and other organs. more info.

Glutamine It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of the gastrointestinal tract and muscles. more info.

Lysine It is a representative essential amino acid and tends to be insufficient when we are on a bread- or rice-centered diet. more info.

Aspartic acid It is contained in asparagus in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source. more info.

Glutamate It is contained in wheat and soybean in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source. more info.

Proline It is the main component of “collagen” which constitutes the skin and other tissues. It serves as a fast-acting energy source. more info.

Cysteine Cysteine is easy to be deficient in the infants. more info.

Threonine It is an essential amino acid which is used to form active sites of enzymes.

Methionine It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various substances needed in the body.

Histidine It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce histamine and others.

Phenylalanine It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines.

Tyrosine It is used to produce various useful amines and is sometimes called aromatic amino acid together with phenylalanine and tryptophan.

Tryptophan It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines.

Asparagine It is an amino acid which is located close to the TCA cycle (place of energy generation) together with aspartic acid.

Glycine It is used to produce glutathione and porphyrin, a component of hemoglobin.

Serine It is used to produce phospholipids and glyceric acid.

Valine Leucine Isoleucine	All of these 3 amino acids are called branched chain amino acid (BCAAs). They perform the important functions of increasing proteins and serving as an energy source during exercise.	more info.
Alanine	It is an important amino acid as an energy source for the liver.	more info.
Arginine	It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of blood vessels and other organs.	more info.
Glutamine	It is an amino acid needed to maintain normal functions of the gastrointestinal tract and muscles.	more info.
Lysine	It is a representative essential amino acid and tends to be insufficient when we are on a bread- or rice-centered diet.	more info.
Aspartic acid	It is contained in asparagus in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source.	more info.
Glutamate	It is contained in wheat and soybean in large amounts. It is a fast-acting energy source.	more info.
Proline	It is the main component of “collagen” which constitutes the skin and other tissues. It serves as a fast-acting energy source.	more info.
Cysteine	Cysteine is easy to be deficient in the infants.	more info.
Threonine	It is an essential amino acid which is used to form active sites of enzymes.
Methionine	It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various substances needed in the body.
Histidine	It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce histamine and others.
Phenylalanine	It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines.
Tyrosine	It is used to produce various useful amines and is sometimes called aromatic amino acid together with phenylalanine and tryptophan.
Tryptophan	It is an essential amino acid which is used to produce various useful amines.
Asparagine	It is an amino acid which is located close to the TCA cycle (place of energy generation) together with aspartic acid.
Glycine	It is used to produce glutathione and porphyrin, a component of hemoglobin.
Serine	It is used to produce phospholipids and glyceric acid.

For 100 years, since the discovery of glutamate, a kind of amino acid and the source of umami, the Ajinomoto Group has developed our business around the world.

Source: Ajinomoto Group | Features | Encyclopedia of Amino Acids | Let’s Learn about Amino Acids! | 20 Kinds of Amino Acids that Support the Body