Amino Acid Supplements for Body-building and Exercise :: Science Chemistry Health Essays

Amino Acid Supplements for Body-building and Exercise Contents: This paper is divided into two sections. The first section contains information about research of amino acid supplements found on the Internet. The second section contains published research studies addressing questions of effectiveness and safety of the supplements. Section 1: Internet-based Research Involving Amino Acids General Overview of Section 1 The sports of bodybuilding and fitness are undergoing changes as supplemental products enhance the performance of athletes. With access to the Internet, these products are readily available, but the effectiveness is in question. Amino acids are one form of supplementation that is being used by many people today. Research on the Internet shows that amino acids are available in seemingly countless varieties with most of the information being presented by the companies who sell them. Each form claims to have some enhancing effect, such as better performance, increased strength, or just benefiting results for athletes. However, not all of the amino acid products on the market claim to help the visible physical aspects. Some affect internal or emotional processes. Support for many of these claims are from the users themselves, with little scientific support. Amino Acids and their Functions According to David Spindel, "amino acids are organic molecules that form the basic constituents of protein. " They are the "building blocks" of the body. They build and repair various body parts and aid certain body functions. There are twenty-two amino acids. Eight are essential and fourteen are non-essential. The body does not manufacture the essential acids and does manufacture the non-essential acids. The body contains a free amino acid pool that contains tissues and bodily fluids. Amino acids enter this pool by three ways. Amino acids enter during digestion of foods containing protein, when body protein decomposes, and when carbon sources and NH3 synthesize the non-essentials. When protein intake is insufficient, there are not enough amino acids entering the pool to compensate for the lost ones. This affects the muscle size and strength (4). Amino acids aid the body in many ways, and are definitely needed by the body to function properly. Supplements are needed only when the bod y does not get the required amounts. The purposes of amino acid supplements are to replenish the lacking acid supply and in most sports uses, to stimulate lean mass growth without sacrificing present muscle mass.