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Amino Acid Protein Supplements
Dietary Amino Acids BenefitsBy B.Cat
Amino Acids are wondrous things. Once you learn
what they do in the body you're almost struck with amazement. They
fulfill the basic foundations of well-being like vitamins and
minerals whilst also optimizing those micronutrients and providing
the fuel for growth, health, good functioning of the body and
genetic transcription.
If I were to go into a rant about amino acids and
their many functions I could easily fill a book. As a matter of
fact, if I went into describing the uses of every amino acid
separately I'd already have a nice novella. That's why I'm only
going to discuss the ones that could be of potent benefit to the
athlete. That's probably still going to justify several pages. What are amino acids? Well, amino acids in food make up protein.
When protein is digested it is once again broken down into specific
amino acids, that are then selectively put together for different
uses. These new proteins formed in the body are what make up most
solid matter in the body: skin, eyes, heart, intestines, bones and
of course muscle.
To get best amino acid product click here. That's why understanding what each of these aminos can do and
getting more of them in your diet can be very beneficial to reaching
specific goals, such as muscle building. Of course one mustn't
exaggerate, because a good protein balance is what provides health
and stability, without it any of the amino acids can become toxic.
An issue that has been brought up in the case of phenylalanine,
but holds true for all amino acids. To counter potential harmful
effects, getting enough vitamins and minerals is important because
they insure proper conversion of protein to amino and vice versa.
There are 22 actual amino acids. Of those 22, 8 are considered
essential, which means that you need to get a certain amount of them
in your diet to function properly. Since aminos are the building
blocks of protein, I'm sure you get plenty of all of them, but this
article will show you the benefits of supplementing with extra free
form amino acids, going in to deep detail of what too much or too
little of several of them can do, what they do in the body and how
much and when you should use them. Next to the 8 essential amino acids there are 14 non-essential
amino acids and a whole host of other metabolites classed as amino
acids which are derived from the 8 essential ones. Next to the 8
essential aminos I will try to discuss a number of them that have
made the headlines recently: Glutamine, Arginine, Carnitine,
Cysteine and HMB. The 8 Essential Amino Acids Understanding the essentials and trying to optimize them in your
diet should be basic knowledge for any bodybuilder. A complete
spectrum of amino acids and an optimum health can only be brought
forth by gearing your protein intake to these 8 aminos. So even if
you aren't even considering supplementing with free forms, at least
peruse these next 8 paragraphs and learn. Histidine
In the body Histidine is needed for the growth and repair of
tissue of all kind. It plays a key role in the maintenance and
manufacture of glial nerve cells called oligo-dendrocytes which wrap
themselves around your nerves to form a protective sheath called
myelin. This prevents unintended impulses that can obviously lead to
serious defects in the brain and spinal cord. As if it didn't have
enough work, Histidine is also a manufacturer of both red and white
blood cells. It also helps in radiation protection and removing
excess heavy metals (such as Iron) from the body. In the stomach it
produces gastric juices that may speed up and improve digestion, so
it's a helpful tool in fighting indigestion and gastro-intestinal
disorders. It is a precursor to the non-essential amino acid histamine,
which is released by the immune system as a response to allergic
reactions. It has been linked in recent studies to longer orgasms
and better sexual enjoyment for those of you who are having a little
trouble in that area. Use to bodybuilders: Minimal. Only in improving digestion.
Lysine
This is one of the aminos that is of utmost importance to growth
and development. It is used in the body for calcium absorption,
which results in bone and muscle growth as well as fat mobilization
for energy uses. It maintains the Nitrogen balance and helps to maintain lean body
mass in periods of extreme stress and fatigue. It is also needed to
produce antibodies , hormones (GH, testosterone, insulin, you name
it) , enzymes, collagen and to repair damaged tissue, much like
Histidine and most of the essential amino acids. Next to maintaining
it, it also helps to build new muscle protein. And the
cardiovascular benefits include the maintenance of healthy blood
vessels. Use to bodybuilders: Next to the maintenance and
manufacture of muscle protein, Lysine plays a role in revitalizing
the body to combat fatigue and overtraining and it maintains a
positive nitrogen balance, creating an anabolic environment within
the body. Phenylalanine Phenylalanine is, or rather was, a hot topic. Some people seem to
react rather badly to it, and a lot of heck was raised about it
being used in products. Things have calmed down and studies have
shown that there is no harm in it for healthy people. It elevates
the mood by stimulating the nerve system, and may be important to
staying motivated for whatever reason. It aids memory and together with its derivative glutamine is
considered a smart-vitamin (though they aren't vitamins). It
increases levels of epinephrine, nor-epinephrine and dopamine in the
anterior pituitary. All three are important neurotransmitters needed
for optimum operation of the nerve system. It helps the absorption
of UV-rays in sunlight, which in turn gives a higher rate of Vitamin
D, a strong body hormone. Its main metabolite is tyrosine which increases levels of
dopamine and nor-epinephrine, as stated above . It's also one of the
manufacturers of Glutamine, the amino acid that makes up the largest
part of the amino acid pool. Phenylalanine often gets a bad wrap in the press. It is used as a
non-carbohydrate sweetener in many soft drinks (combined with
aspartic acid, as aspartame) and made headlines recently when some
claimed it was hazardous to the brain, and then later it was linked
to carcinogenic risk. Toxic levels of phenylalanine can indeed be lethal, but trust me,
so can anything else. If I put a gun to your head and made you drink
twenty gallons of purified water, you'd be dead too. And that's
water. Imagine what vitamins or minerals could do? Yet somehow I
doubt anyone feels vitamins are an evil poison, put on earth to kill
you. Well, neither is phenylalanine. It's an essential amino acid, and
most nutritionists will tell you that you are more likely to be
deficient than run the risk of overdosing. Toxic doses exceed 3 to 4
times the amount you would get on average from a diet containing
250-300 grams of protein daily. So that extra diet Coke won't kill
you. Use to bodybuilders: Apart from motivation and extra
Vitamin D, Phenylalanine is of the use because of the nerve
upgrading which will allow for maximal contraction and relaxation of
the muscles. The DL-form is often supplemented as an endurance
enhancer. Because of the toxicity level, this is never done
long-term Methionine Methionine assists in the breakdown and use of fats, which
in turn yields a higher testosterone rate. Together with Zinc that's
how ZMA does its thing. It also eliminates excess fat from the
bloodstream, resulting in less potential adipose (fat) tissue. It is
key in digestion and the removal of heavy metals from the stomach
and liver. It is a good anti-oxidant because it readily supplies sulfur,
inactivates free radicals and helps with memory recall. It is a
precursor to cysteine, which is the amino that produces gluthione to
detoxify the liver. It's also one of the three aminos that are
needed to manufacture creatine monohydrate within the body, an
essential compound for energy production and muscle growth. Use to bodybuilders: Fat metabolization, better digestion
and anti-oxidizing properties make this a valuable compound.
BCAAs Branched Chain Amino Acids are held in high regard in
bodybuilding circles and justly so. They are the three most
important amino acids in the manufacture, maintenance and repair of
muscle-tissue. All three exert a strong synergistic effect. Using just Valine or Iso-leucine does little as far as anabolics
is concerned but both, when dosed in the right amounts , enhance the
effect of the all-important Leucine. As with certain other
supplements, the relative dose is more important than the overall
dose. It is believed that a 2-1-2 equilibrium in Leucine/Iso-leucine/Valine
dosing yields the best results. The dosages listed are the FDA recommendations for taking the
individual BCA's. BCAAs are used medically to treat headaches,
dizziness, fatigue, depression and irritability as a result of
protein deficiency. BCAAs are always best used together. A little
useful stack advice: BCAAs stack well with B-complex vitamins.
Leucine
The strongest of the BCAAs is responsible for the regulation of
blood-sugar levels, the growth and repair of tissues in skin, bones
and of course skeletal muscle. It's a strong potentiator to Human
Growth Hormone. It helps in healing wounds, regulating energy and
assists in the preventing the breakdown of muscle tissue. Use to bodybuilders: Leucine may be one of the strongest
natural anabolic agents in the world. It will not give you amazing
results, simply because you are already taking in quite large
amounts of it.
Isoleucine Very similar to leucine in every way. Isoleucine promotes muscle
recovery, regulates the blood-sugar levels and stimulates hGH
release. But isoleucine holds its own in terms of wound healing. It
helps in the formation of hemoglobin and is strongly involved in the
formation of blood-clots, the body's primary defense against
infection through open wounds. Use to bodybuilders: Of similar importance as leucine,
Very important as part of the BCAA stack.
Valine
Repair and growth of muscle tissue yet again, as commonly
attributed to BCAAs. It maintains the nitrogen balance and preserves
the use of glucose. Use to bodybuilders: In combination with Isoleucine and
Leucine Threonine
Essential amino acid that is not manufactured within the body,
ever. Since its main sources are animal (dairy and meat) this
doesn't bode well to vegans. It's found in heart, skeletal muscle
and nerve tissue in the central nervous system. Threonine (reminds
me of that chick on voyager) is used to form the body's two most
important binding substances, collagen and elastin. It is also
essential to maintain proper protein balance. Threonine is involved in liver functioning, lipotropic functions
(when combined with aspartic acid and methionine) and in the
maintenance of the immune system by helping in the production of
antibodies and promoting growth and activity of the thymus. But
perhaps its most useful property of all is that it allows better
absorption of other nutrients, so protein sources containing
threonine are more bio-available than others. Use to Bodybuilders: absorption of protein, maintenance of
muscle and important to good health The most important non-essential amino acids. The above information is knowledge that will empower you to
understand why you need protein, but apart from BCAAs I know few
people that take extra essential amino acids, simply because every
bodybuilder with half a brain is already taking in at least ten to
twenty times the recommended FDA doses, in some cases as much as 40
times. But non-essential amino acids are produced only as the body needs
them, and are not as omni-present in food as the essential ones are.
So while we have more than enough non-essential amino acids, in some
circumstances taking in extra free form versions may be beneficial.
Especially in circumstances where for one reason or another the
body's reserve is in danger of being absorbed for less useful
purposes. They are temporary solutions to temporary problems. But
some would have you believe, vested interests can pay off big-time,
that you should be taking them all the time. Glutamine being case in
point. Weider is the biggest distributor of free form L-Glutamine and
FLEX magazine recommends you take in massive amounts of the stuff
even when you don't need it. That Weider owns FLEX hasn't dawned on
anyone yet apparently. But this goes for all non-essential amino
acids. Here are the most popular ones. Glutamine
L-Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid that is present in the
body in large amounts. At some times it forms 60 percent of your
total amino acid pool. Because it passes through the blood-brain
barrier rather easily it's often called brain-food. It may aid memory recall and concentration. In the brain it
converts to glutamic acid, which is essential for brain functioning
and increase GABA (gamma-amino-butyric-acid, another popular
supplemented amino) needed or mental activities. It is used in
synthesis of muscle-tissue. We all know we need nitrogen to get big, but too much nitrogen in
the body could cause ammonia in the brain. Glutamine helps to get
rid of it by attaching itself to the nitrogen and forming Glutamic
acid, then escorts it out of the body. Glutamine is also one of the main building blocks in the genetic
coding. It is found in several strands of DNA and RNA, more than
other amino's. And most important perhaps is that it balances the
acid/alkaline level, so it reduces lactic acid. It decreases the cravings for sweets which can be of use on a
diet, and a metabolite of Glutamine called Monosodium Glutamine
(MSG), a salt, is used as a flavor enhancer. It has no real flavor
of its own, but it can enhance the flavor of other products such as
meat, fish and vegetables. Glutamine has the downside of being more readily used as fuel for
energy than some simple carbs. It is one of the preferred fuels of
the intestines for example and a good source of energy throughout
the body. So chances are more glutamine will not even be used for
what you supplement it for. The body just doesn't use what it
already has. So is Glutamine a bad supplement? No. It's one of the best
supplements currently on the market, but there is no way in hell you
need to supplement with L-glutamine in a bulking phase. You should
have plenty. I asked some sources who could know (and don't have a vested
interest in the stuff ) and they said and I quote: "In the presence
of good health, supplementation is not necessary." That, my friends,
is fact. No company, other than commercial supplement companies,
carry a Glutamine product. But we all know they'll produce anything
if they smell money, just look at vanadyl. So why bother? Well, In a dieting phase you will be lowering your
carbs, and if you are cutting up for competition your carb intake
will be so low you are in danger of using hard earned muscle-protein
as fuel for your body. And what did I say is the preferred fuel of
most tissues: Glutamine. So supplementing with extra Glutamine makes sense if you want to
spare that hard-earned muscle. In fact in this instance it becomes
necessary. I use the stuff myself. 15-25 grams can be supplemented
and burned without touching the rest of the body's amino acid
supply. Some people suggest using 2 doses, but I can tell you as a
competitor that you will get more benefit by using more. I prefer 5
doses of 5-7 grams, but that is a personal opinion, not a guideline.
Keep in mind that it is expensive. This is a supplement as paradox. It is absolutely useless and a
waste of money one moment, but a critical tool in success the next.
Never dismiss the power of Glutamine despite the bad wrap I gave it.
It can be worth your buck. I just think it's more important to
convince you of its overuse than of its merits, there are enough
companies that will sell you on that. Use to bodybuilders: The preservation of muscle mass and
the supplying of an alternate energy source in glucose deprivated
conditions (diets and such)
Arginine Lately this is the hottest amino-topic around for the moment.
Arginine is added to many supplements for its amazing nitrogen
retention ability. Nitrogen as you are all aware is one of the key
elements in muscle protein synthesis. Some plants can absorb
nitrogen, but we mammals have to make do with the stuff we make
ourselves. arginine is mostly present in protanines and histones,
two proteins commonly associated with nucleic acids (like DNA and
RNA). So far its main use was for newborns to excite new growth,
because at a young age its difficult to manufacture enough. It
enhances the immune system , stimulates the size and activity of the
Thymus gland (responsible for the fames T-cells) which makes it a
prime choice for anyone in a condition that is less than optimal for
health, such as people recovering from injury and HIV patients. The hormonal release properties include releasing insulin from
the pancreas and a massive stimulator in the manufacture of GH from
the anterior pituitary. But for GH the metabolite arginine
pyroglutamate because it passes the brain-blood barrier more easily.
It is often linked to sexual stimulus, with the notion that it may
lengthen and improve orgasms. It is found in seminal fluid and was often used in studies to
enhance the male sexual health and put forward as a cure for
sterility. So very useful in this day and age of environmental
estrogens and not to be overlooked by steroid-users looking for a
post-cycle boost. It also improves the health of the liver, skin and
connective tissues and may lower cholesterol. But mostly it facilitates muscle mass gain while limiting fat
storage, because it keeps fat alive in the system and uses it. It's
key in weight control. Use to bodybuilders: Too many to name. If you read the
above I'm sure you realize that Carnitine As amino acids go, carnitine is quite the popular fellow. But the
truth is, it's not really an amino acid. It's only classed as such
because of a structural likeness. Its more commonly known as Vitamin
BT. Carnitine comes in four forms: D-carnitine, DL-carnitine, L-carnitine
and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). Only the last two could be of actual
use to bodybuilders. When there is enough Thiamin (Vitamin B1) and pyridoxine (Vitamin
B6) in circulation it can trigger methionine and lysine to
manufacture carnitine. Unlike the majority of amino's, and this is
the reason why we consume as much protein as we do, it is not
involved in protein synthesis. Instead it is used for transport of
long-chain fatty acids. It is nescessary for these fatty acids to
enter and be removed from the inside of a cell, and also removes
short-chain organic acids from the mitochondria in order to free
mitochondrial coenzyme. These characteristics have given it enormous media-attention in
bodybuilding circles because optimal use of carnitine might lead to
a decrease in body-fat percentage and more energy. For health
reasons carnitine may also be beneficial to prevent fatty acid
buildup within the heart, liver and muscle.Carnitine is a good idea
in any case because it improves the anti-oxidizing effect of
Vitamins C and E Carnitine is the only non-essential amino acid that should be
considered for long-term use. For people needing to stay lean year
long, it could be a very helpful tool. But here too I see no need to
use it on a permanent basis, since a lot of it is present in
protein-dense foods. For competitive bodybuilders I would only suggest use when
dieting, since the leaning out effect may impair the anabolic
environment and consequently muscle-growth, but for those of you
making a living as a model or a guest poser carnitine could be your
number 1 supplement for keeping lean year round. For those of you
supplementing carnitine, it is wise not to follow standard
guidelines, but to calculate intake according to lean bodyweight.
Use to Bodybuilders: Increase of ATP, better synthetic
reception of glucocorticoids and the minimizing of fat buildup
around the muscle. Cysteine Cysteine is a sulfur-containing non-essential amino acid, making
it a veritable favorite as an anti-oxidant. It's closely related to
Cystine, which basically consists of 2 Cysteine molecules bonded
together. Cysteine is very unstable and almost immediately converts
to Cystine when it gets the chance. Its not a true problem, because
if the body needs it, it can easily convert it back to Cysteine. Its required for healthy skin, detoxification of the body (due to
the sulfur-content) and the production of collagen (used for skin
elasticity and texture). That is why it is found most often in
beta-keratin (keratin-molecules are the things that make up hair,
nails and such and provides you with healthy skin. Keratin is a
protein often formed and stored in skin tissue) Here is where cysteine proves its use as a vital component of
life. It is the manufacturer of taurine, which is a compenent of
gluthione. Gluthione in turn protects the brain and liver from
damage by way of drugs, alcohol and other substances the body
considers harmful. Taurine is now found in many creatine products,
but to what effect, no one seems to be able to tell me. Probably to get the most out of Lipoic acid, though I fail to see
how it could be really useful even in that way. It strengthens the
protective lining of the stomach and intestines to prevent damage by
products that are not wanted in the body (Which is why it is hard to
get the most out of pills and medicin). But it does qualify as a
very good liver protector. Moreover Cysteine is critical to the metabolism of other very
useful things to the bodybuilder, Including coenzyme A, heparin,
biotin (B-vitamin) and the praised alpha lipoic acid. It's
manufactured from methionine. Use to bodybuilders: Metabolizer of B-vitamins,
detoxification of damage due to other supplements and potentiating
insulin.
HMB Beta-Hydroxy, beta-methyl butyrate is a made from the essential
branched chain amino acid leucine to carry out more specifically
some of its functions. HMB plays a role in muscle synthesis by
increasing the rate of protein being used, leading to less fat
storage of such molecules and contributing to the maintenance of
muscle mass. The more protein is being effectively used, the more
muscle-protein you save from being used as an alternate fuel source
in glucose-deprived states. Not only does it improve the use of free
amino acids in the body, it also prevents the use of engaged amino
acids by minimizing protein breakdown. By maintaining the integrity
and strength of the cell lining (membrane) it doesn't allow the
protein stored in the cell to be used for alternate means. In the body it is said we can produce up to 1 gram daily. So
naturally for those looking to supplement, significantly higher
doses will be needed. I have my own feelings about HMB
supplementation. I must say the first time I used it, I thought it
was a waste of money. Since then more research has shown that HMB is a worthy
supplement, but at the doses needed to exert serious effects is way
too costly. Prices for quality HMB have gone down, but at the
current cost for isolating amino acids I have no idea if they will
ever be cost-effective. In a dieting stage HMB could be a lifesaver.
By protecting the muscle protein, metabolizing fat and increasing
the use of free aminos as energy it may help you reach your goals
sooner. But the same can be said about carnitine and glutamine. The
decision lies with you on what you want to spend your money on. But
unless you have high hopes of winning some kind of prize, I don't
think your wallet will appreciate you taking them all along with
your fat-burner. If HMB is your thing however, consider the doses. For maximum
benefit HMB should be taken over as many servings as possible. 6 are
good, 8 are better and so on, but if you are the forgetful type, 3
servings will do. Total intake for a training day, when on a diet (I wouldn't
recommend HMB as a good supplement in another situation), should be
4.5 to 6 grams depending on sex and age, and on non-training days
2.5 to 3 should serve you well. Maintain use on non-training days
because muscle wasting is an arduous process that doesn't take your
schedule in to account. Again increase the dosage with lean
body-weight. Use to Bodybuilders: Prevents muscle loss and fat storage
in times of glucose-deprivation Conclusion That should give you a key list of the most popular Amino
acids in bodybuilding today. If you managed to read all that,
congratulations. But as long as you learned something my day is
good. I know I mentioned it with some of the last ones, but the need
for amino acids, or protein as a whole, increases with the
bodyweight, the standard equation remaining 1 to 1.5 grams of
protein per pound of bodyweight, so keep that in mind when
supplementing with free form aminos. The bigger you are, the more
you need. I stick to my point that except for BCAAs, individual free form
amino acids should not be supplemented except in phases of
overtraining or dieting. Most of them have muscle-sparing,
energizing and motivational properties that are useful in those
situations. Amino-acids have yet to reveal a great deal of their secrets,
and no doubt new research in the new millennium will once again
amaze us.
Dosage: Minimum of 1000 mg daily, but the recommendation is
8-10 mg a day per kilogram of bodyweight. Chances are you get at
least two or three times that in your diet.
Overdosing: Too much Histidine may lead to stress and the
aggrevation of mental disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia.
Medical uses: Used in the treating of arthritis and nerve
deafness.
Sources: Found in dairy, meat, poultry, fish as well as rice,
wheat and rye.
Dosage: Normal recomendation is 12 mg per kilo of bodyweight,
but daily intake exceeds that, and even when taking in 1.5 grams of
protein per pound of bodyweight, a couple of extra mg won't hurt.
It's a priority amino acid to the athlete. but beware of overdosing.
Deficiency: May lead to enzyme disorders, lack of energy,
hair loss (common for protein shortage), weight loss, no appetite
and loss of concentration.
Overdosing: could result in higher LDL cholesterol, diarrhea
and galstones
Medical uses: Treating of cold sources and lack of energy.
Sources: Cheese, eggs, milk, meat, yeast, potatoes and lima
beans.
Dosages: Recommendation is 14 mg per kilo of bodyweight.
You'll be getting more than that no doubt, and I see no need to
increase that. Especially with the potential side-effects.
Deficiency: Its rare, but if it occurs it leads to weakness,
lethargy, liver damage and stunted growth.
Overdosing: This is not a wise supplement to be taking by
pregnant women and diabetics. It results in higher blood pressure ,
headaches, nausea, heart trouble and nerve damage.
Medical Uses: For treatment of arthritis and depression
Sources: All dairy products, almonds, avocados, Nuts and
seeds.
Dosage: 12 mg per kilo of bodyweight. If you think it may be
a good idea to supplement this, you may as well invest in some ZMA.
The supplement is cost-effective and yields higher results than just
Methionine.
Deficiency: causes dementia, fatty liver, slow growth,
weakness, skin lesions and edema
Overdosing: None, except in case of a shortage of B-Vitamins,
in which case you are an easy target for arterosclerosis.
Medical Uses: used to treat depression, arthritis and liver
disease
Sources: Meat , fish, beans, eggs, garlic, lentils, onions,
yogurt and seeds.
Dosage: 16 mg per kilo of bodyweight.
Overdosing: Unknown, may increase ammonia.
Medical uses: Prevention of muscle-wasting in states of
deprivation.
Sources: Found in nearly all protein sources, including brown
rice, beans, nuts and whole wheat.
Dosage: 10-12 mg per kilo of bodyweight
Overdosing: Causes elevated urination. No serious problems.
May become serious if you have kidney or liver disease.
Medical uses: Wound healing.
Sources: chicken, cashews, fish, almonds, eggs, lentils,
liver, meat
Dosage: 16 mg per kilo of bodyweight
Deficiency: Leads to MSUD
Overdosing: crawling sensation in the skin is common,
hallucination, may be hazardous to people with kidney and liver
disease.
Medical Uses: None, not separately
Sources: Dairy, meat, grain, mushrooms, soy, peanuts
Dosage: 8 mg per kilo of bodyweight, generally advised in
amounts of 100-500 mg when supplemented
Deficiency: Irritability and being difficult, nothing severe.
Less immunity against disease.
Overdosing: Not known
Medical Uses: treatment for mental health
Sources: Meat, dairy and eggs.
Dosage: Don't go overboard. 5-10 grams can illicit an effect,
but bodybuilders on low-carb diets for shows could go as high as
30-35.
Deficiency: Unknown, Glutamine is the most manufactured
protein in the body.
Overdosing: Only dangerous in people with liver or kidney
trouble
Sources: Large amounts in all high-protein foods.
Dosage: No recommended dosage. I'm not even sure if anyone
produces free-form arginine, but if you have two equal products and
one contains more arginine, the choice should be simple. To
supplement in large doses may lead to side effects, but getting
protein powders and weight-gainers enriched with extra arginine
makes sense.
Deficiency: Impaired insulin production, hair loss. But
hardly ever occurs in healthy people
Overdosing: Skin thickening and coarsening, weakness,
diarrhea, nausea and loss of immunity to viruses. So it is not a
smart idea for people with viral diseases.
Medical uses: Treatment of sexual impairment, and often
prescribed against high levels of cholesterol
Sources: Whole-wheat, nuts and seeds, rice, chocolate,
raisins, soy
Precaution: Do not stack arginine with Lysine because they
compete for absorption
Dosage: Ranging from 20 - 200 mg seems to be the best
choice.A need for carnitine is calculated according to muscle
weight, so more muscle equals a higher need for carnitine.
Deficiency: Only in people with a carnitine transport-defect
Overdosing: Doses exceeding 3000 mg have been known to cause
diarrhea and fish odor syndrome.
Medical Uses: Reducing the risk of poor fat metabolism in
diabetics
Sources: Fish, chicken, red meat and milk. Not found in
vegetables.
Dosage: 200-300 mg , two to three times daily
Deficiency: unknown
Overdosing: only possible in diabetics
Medical Uses: liver-protecting and easing of debilitating
diseases
Sources: poultry, wheat, broccoli, eggs, garlic, onion and
peppers
Dosage: 2.5 to 6 grams daily
Deficiency: Only in case of Leucine shortage, unknown
Overdosing: Unknown, so far noone could afford and overdose
Medical uses: None
Sources: present in many foods in trace amounts. Largest
amounts found in catfish, grapefruit and alfalfa