What is the Difference Between Essential and Non-essential Amino Acids?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between essential and non-essential amino acids lies in the body's ability to synthesize them. Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be acquired through the diet, while non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body and are not required to be obtained through food sources.
Essential Amino Acids:
- Cannot be produced by the body
- Must be acquired through the diet
- Nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalaline, threonine, tryptophan, and valine
Non-essential Amino Acids:
- Can be synthesized by the body
- Not required to be obtained through food sources
- Eleven non-essential amino acids: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine
Both essential and non-essential amino acids have numerous functions in the human body, including the production of proteins, enzymes, and hormones, as well as the regulation of gene expression and digestion. Although essential amino acids must be obtained through the diet, the body can still produce non-essential amino acids even without obtaining them from food sources. In times of illness and stress, some non-essential amino acids may become conditionally essential.
Comparative Table: Essential vs Non-essential Amino Acids
Based on the search results, here is a table comparing essential and non-essential amino acids:
| Property | Essential Amino Acids | Non-essential Amino Acids |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Cannot be synthesized by the body, must be obtained through diet | Can be synthesized by the body, no need to be obtained through diet |
| Number | 9 essential amino acids | 11 non-essential amino acids |
| Examples | Leucine, isoleucine, histidine, lysine, methionine, threonine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine | Alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine |
| Functions | Build and repair muscle tissues, form precursor molecules for neurotransmitters in the brain | Removal of toxins, integral in the synthesis of RBC and WBC, promotes brain function |
| Deficiency | High probability, as they must be obtained through diet | Low probability, as they can be synthesized by the body |
Both essential and non-essential amino acids have many of the same functions in the human body, including the production of proteins, enzymes, and hormones, as well as the regulation of gene expression and digestion.
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