| L-Alanine is one of 20 amino acids that are used | | | | Since gluconeogenesis involves the expenditure of |
| by the body to manufacture the proteins | | | | energy, and this occurs in the liver rather than in |
| essential for life. Each protein possesses specific | | | | the muscle, all the energy in the muscle can be |
| biological properties that are imparted by the | | | | used for muscle contraction. |
| sequence of amino acids it contains. Proteins | | | | L-Alanine possesses other properties, among |
| control the chemistry that takes place within the | | | | them the ability to help maintain the health of the |
| cells of our body, and comprise all of the | | | | prostate. A study of benign prostatic hyperplasia |
| enzymes that catalyze the body's biochemistry. | | | | (enlarged prostate) indicated that treatment with |
| Amino acids are also the building blocks of DNA | | | | L-alanine, glutamic acid and glycine over a period |
| that determines the genetic make-up of | | | | of three months reduced the symptoms. |
| individuals, and that also provides recipes or | | | | However, make sure that you consult your |
| templates for the production of proteins from | | | | physician before using alanine in this way. This is |
| amino acid sequences. There is a different DNA | | | | not because there are any known adverse side |
| template for every protein required by the body | | | | effects, because there are not, but because it I |
| that determines which of the 20 amino acids are | | | | always wise to so with any supplement taken |
| needed, and in what order they are to be | | | | with a view to treating any medical condition. |
| combined with one another to manufacture the | | | | A less obvious application derives from the fact |
| desired protein. | | | | that it forms a stable free radical when |
| 10 of these 20 amino acids can be synthesized by | | | | deaminated. Deamination can be initiated by |
| your body's biochemistry, the other 10 being | | | | radiation, and so the concentration of this free |
| essential parts of your diet. If you fail to include | | | | radical can be measured to ensure that the |
| just of these 10, then your body will break down | | | | correct dose of radiation is being given in |
| its proteins until it has obtained a sufficient supply | | | | dosimetric radiotherapy. It is not always easy to |
| of that amino acids for its needs. That involves | | | | control the dose accurately, and this property of |
| muscle and other tissue degradation, and is one of | | | | alanine allows it to monitored and to ensure that it |
| the symptoms of malnutrition. Amino acids are | | | | is neither too low to have the desired effect, nor |
| not stored, and a daily supply is essential to avoid | | | | dangerously high. |
| these symptoms. | | | | Although it is a non-essential amino acid, and can |
| L-Alanine is one of the ten that the body can | | | | be produced by the body, a dietary supply or |
| manufacture, and used by the body to help build | | | | supplement is advantageous if extra energy is |
| protein and also to enable the body to make use | | | | required. Good dietary sources of L-alanine include |
| of glucose to generate energy. It does so as part | | | | meats, seafood, eggs, nuts, beans, seeds, |
| of what is known as the glucose-alanine cycle. | | | | brewer's yeast, corn and legumes among others. |
| During anaerobic exercise, such as in weightlifting | | | | Supplements are also available, and useful for |
| and sustained running, muscles produce lactate | | | | body-builders, weightlifters and others involved in |
| and also alanine. | | | | anaerobic exercise. Due to the glucose-alanine |
| The alanine is passed on to the liver where it is | | | | cycle, it can possibly provide energy when lactate |
| converted to energy via its conversion to glucose. | | | | build-up would otherwise lead to muscle cramps. |
| This is not a particularly efficient means of | | | | Those for whom a supplement could be useful |
| creating energy because a byproduct of the | | | | are athletes and others who are trying to build |
| process is urea, the removal of which in turn | | | | muscle and stamina, or reduce their body fat and |
| requires energy. However, it serves its purpose | | | | also the obese and overweight for the same |
| as an energy source once the liver is depleted of | | | | reason. There is also evidence that a combination |
| glycogen. In fact that is the major use to which | | | | of the amino acids alanine, glycine and arginine can |
| alanine appears to be put by the body: the | | | | help to reduce arterial plaque from oxidized low |
| conversion of glucose to energy. | | | | density lipoproteins, and can also help to reduce |
| The way the glucose-alanine cycle works is that a | | | | high blood pressure. |
| process known as transamination produces | | | | Deficiencies are rare, although groups that do not |
| glutamate from the amino groups of amino acids | | | | eat meat should be careful to eat foods with a |
| that are degraded during exercise. Glutamate is | | | | good alanine content. There are no known side |
| then converted to pyruvate by means of the | | | | effects of a deficiency since the body will |
| enzyme alanine aminotransferase, with the | | | | generate what is needed for normal purposes, |
| production of alanine and alpha-ketoglutarate. This | | | | and while the supplement appears to have no side |
| is a reversible reaction, and after the alanine has | | | | effects, it is advisable that pregnant and lactating |
| been carried by the bloodstream to the liver, the | | | | women should first seek medical advice. The |
| reaction reverses with the regeneration of | | | | same applies if you suffer from hypertension or |
| pyruvate that undergoes gluconeogenesis | | | | diabetes. High doses of alanine might also affect |
| (generation of glucose). | | | | those with kidney or liver disease. |
| The result of this is glucose that returns to the | | | | Although the benefits of supplementation of |
| muscle tissue to provide more energy. The | | | | L-alanine might not be immediately obvious, the |
| glutamate is broken down to the ammonium ion in | | | | results and the science indicate that it is effective |
| the mitochondria, which in turn enters the urea | | | | in making better use of blood glucose in that the |
| cycle with the production of urea. | | | | adenosine triphosphate (ATP) created in the |
| In a nutshell, then, the glucose-alanine cycle | | | | muscle tissue is allowed to be expended on |
| removes glutamate and pyruvate from muscle | | | | muscle contraction while the glucose-alanine cycle |
| tissue to the liver where glucose is generated | | | | provides the energy needed for gluconeogenesis. |
| from the pyruvate and returned to the muscle. | | | | |