The amino acids that constitute collagen
Alanine, anti-hypoglycemiant
- Breaks down GAM.
- Important in numerous brain metabolic functions. Go-between glutamic acid activity and GABA.
- Involved in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidics, composing elements of DNA.
- Highly concentrated neurotransmitter in the brain and in the cephalo-rachidian liquid.
- GAM is essential in the synthesis of Vitamin B3 (niacin), and the metabolism of uric acid and arginine.
- Aging greatly alters brain metabolism. Manganese corrects the reduction of GABA and most likely GAM.
- Prevents, with GABA and glutamic acid, the collapse of intellectual abilities of the aging individual.
Arginine, anti-cholesterol
- Plays a metabolic role in the urea cycle, and is indispensable in the manufacture of ammonium which is converted into urea.
- Essential in the storage and excretion of nitrogen. Plays a key role in regulating protein metabolism.
- Stimulates high secretions of growth hormones.
- Has an effect on the secretion of:
- insulin
- glucagon.
- Can stimulate T Lymphocytes by increasing their number and their response to nitrogen.
- Appears to be promising in the prevention of cancers and aging in high doses!
- Has a favourable effect on male fertility. Lowers cholesterol – such as methionine, taurine and glycine.
- Fosters citrulline at a comparable rate as arginine in its biological effects.
Aspartic acid
Aspartic acid (whose anion is called aspartate) is one of 20 amino-acids that make up protein. It is carbolic acid closely related to asparagine. Its use is as a neurotransmitter in the brain in its methylized form (NDMA receptor, N-Methyl D-Aspartate, Glutamate receptor). It is a urea cycle metabolic agent, and is involved in gluconeogenesis.
Aspartic acid has an iso-electric point of 2.85 which makes it the most acid of amino acids. Aspartic acid represents 40% of aspartame metabolic products.
Glutamic acid - neurotransmitter - stimulant
- Vital for brain energy; very concentrated in the brain.
- Glutamic acid (GA) neurotransmitter, stimulant.
- Important in aging, alcoholism (GA alone). With GABA and GAM (Glutamine), recommended for HTA, Schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy.
- Important role in the synthesis of DNA.
- Memory stimulant and is found in large amounts in the hippocampus.
- Transmission of retinal photoreceptors under dependence of GA.
Glycine, Cicatrizant, Scar repair properties
- Glycine is the simplest non essential amino acid.
- Light sweet taste (tastes like glucose and glycogene).
- Neurotransmitter inhibitor.
- Important for photochemical action of the retina.
- Glycine receptors reside in the entire central nervous system.
- The concentration of glycene is highest in the brain centres involved with Parkinson's disease.
- Could increase neuro-transmission of acetylcholine in the hippocampus (memory centre).
- Important in the synthesis of DNA, glycerol, phosphodolipides, skin protein, collagen, glutathion.
- Hypolipidemic agent. Action on all the triglycerides.
- Anti-gout effect. Inhibits renal reabsorption of uric acid.
- Scar repair properties (post-operatory, burns, trauma), an element of collagen.
- Acts against body growth, especially nails.
- Has a spasticity effect. Important in the treatment of epilepsy.
- Detoxification agent for substances like phenol, benzoic acid, methionine (in excess).
- Opposes morphine.
- Active in manic-depressive disorders, has a sedative effect on mania.
- Active in endocrine functions:
- pituitary gland: increase in growth hormone
- hypophyseal: increase in prolactin
- pancreatic: stimulates secretion of glucagon.
Histidine
Histidine is an amino acid that fills important roles in the structure and function of protein. From a nutritional perspective, histidine is considered as an essential amino acid among humans. Its lateral chain has a base character and includes an imidazol cycle.
Histidines present in protein in the hemaglobin are involved in maintaining blood pH by acting as a molecule buffer. Histidine produces histamine, an allergic reaction agent.
Hydroxylysine
Is largely recognized as a key element of collagen. Hydroxylysine is a hydroxylated derivative of the lysine amino acid. It plays an important role in skin, joint health, ligaments and cartilage.
Hydroxyproline, collagen component
- Contained in greater quantity than proline in collagen, synthesized using proline.
- Plays a key role in bones and connective tissue.
Isoleucine
Isoleucine is a non-polar, indispensable, hydrophobic, amino acid. It's an essential amino acid provided by food. It has a second asymetrical carbon α, and only the 2S-3S form is found in nature. The occurrence of isoleucine in human protein is about 4%.
Leucine
Leucine is an indispensable amino acid, non polar, higher equivalent than valine, and is one of the most common amino acids on the planet. From a nutritional point of view, leucine is an essential amino acid among humans. It alters during aging, leading to an imbalance between the breaking down and manufacture of muscle protein, and is the origin of the loss in muscle mass among the elderly. It has been shown, however, that results with rats are reproducible with humans prior to requiring supplements of leucine for elderly people.
Lysine, immune booster
- Contains a large quantity in muscle tissue.
- Could increase overall immune defenses.
- Could have an effect on genital herpes. This effect would be increased with Zn + vitamin B6 through displacement of copper which is maintained longer in the presence of Lysine.
- In aging, the loss of calcium, especially among women, could be due to a lack of lysine.
- Lysine also has a detoxifying role for lead and other heavy metals among the elderly.
Methionine, anti-allergenic
- Sulphurized essential amino acid although the body absorbs methionine from intestinal flora.
- Methionine agent of the numerous molecules in the body (with ATP).
- Sulphuration agent.
- Precursor of other sulphurized amino acids.
- Component of encephaline, physiological antalogical peptide.
- Antidepressant when associated with ATP in adenosyl L. methionine (transmethylation agent).
- Decreases suicidal tendencies.
- Plays an essential role in the metabolism of depressed patients.
- Has an anti-Parkinson effect (conversion by methionine of DOPA 1 into dopamine).
- Selenium carrier (seleno-methionine).
Phenylalanine, antalgic
- Precursor of thyroidism and catecholamines: tyramine, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine.
- Crosses the hematoencephalic barrier.
- Component of brain neuropeptides: somatostatine, vaso-pressine, melanotrophine, ACTH, angiotensine, encephaline, cholecystokinine.
- Free in the blood, never in the brain or incorporated in brain peptides and neuro-transmitters.
- Converted to tyrosine in the liver.
- Constitutes aspartame with aspartic acid (in dipeptide).
- Anti-depressant increasing norepinephrine.
- Antalgic: blocks encephalinase, so that endorphines are no longer broken down, or produces a positive antalgic effect.
Proline, collagen component
- Collagen is the main reservoir for proline (25%-30% of body proteins), representing 50% of the total body proline.
- Synthesized from 1-glutamate or 1-ornithine.
- Stimulates scar repair like glycine and arginine by increasing collagen synthesis.
Serine,anti-psychotic
- Converts into glycine and vice-versa. The transfer from glycine into serine requires the presence of folic acid which then activates hysroxymethyl serine which uses vitamins B6 and B3.
- Conducted through its metabolism in the synthesis of choline, phospholipids, etc...(from serine phosphatidyl).
- Serine is also metabolized into pyruvate and enters the Krebs cycle (energetic metabolism from glucides). It is therefore active in neoglucogenesis.
- It is involved in synthesis of purines and pyrimidines such as DNA.
- Important in brain metabolism in the form of phosphatidylserine which leads to constitution of brain membrane phospholipids. This process requires the presence of methionine.
- Maximizes the effect of morphine on pain.
Threonine, immune system stimulant
- Precursor to glycine, serine and glucose, reonine.
- Anti-depressant effect described by some people (Braverman).
- Has an action on the immune system.
- Immune system stimulant :
- thymic (hormonal)
- cellular
- immunoglobuline
- anti-bodies
- Has an effect on some scleroses and genetic paraplegic incidents.
Tyrosine, anti-depressant
- Weakly concentrated in the body and in the LCR. On the other hand, there is a large amount in muscles.
- Precursor of neurotransmitters:
- dopamine
- norepinephrine – epinephrine
- Precursor of hormones:
- thyroxine
- estrogenes.
- Precursor of melamine.
- Important in the metabolism of encephalines (brain antalgics)
- In cardiology, reduces ventricular fibrillation.
- In psychiatry, benefits schizophrenia and other psychoses. Haloperidol acts as a blocking agent in the conversion of of tyrosine intro dopamine.
- Allows for the physiological adaptation of the body to stress by fostering the storage of adrenaline. During stress, tyrosine is necessary for physiological adaptation to this state.
- Active in Parkinson's disease, which is not surprising as L DOPA is useful in this illness.
- Could control appetite by activating epinephrine.
- Could be very active in depression that resists therapy. This would be linked with the metabolism of thyroxine.
Valine, anti-stress — glycogenic
- Source of muscular energy.
- Anabolic affect
- Metabolized only by glucides
- Has usefulness during hepatic coma through competition with tryptophan and probably tyrosine at the level of the brain = ammoniemia.
- Ready to be used in brain metabolism.
- Stimulates production of the growth hormone.
- Used as a therapeutic supplement in liver diseases.