Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Amino Acids in Health and Endocrine Function

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1265))

Abstract

Dietary amino acids play an important role in maintaining health. Branched chain amino acids can adversely increase blood pressure whereas arginine and citrulline can reduce it. D-amino acids play important roles in several cell types including testis, the nervous system and adrenal glands. Several amino acids also can have dramatic effects on diabetes; branched chain amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine have been implicated while others, namely arginine and citrulline can improve outcomes. Leucine has been shown to play important roles in muscle primarily through the mTOR pathway though this effect does not translate across every population. Glutamine, arginine and D-aspartate also exert their muscle effects through mTOR. Relationships between amino acids and endocrine function include that of glucocorticoids, thyroid function, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), ghrelin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and leptin. Leucine, for example, can alleviate the effect of dexamethasone on muscle protein accretion. Interestingly, amino acid transporters play an important role in thyroid function. Several amino acids have been shown to increase GLP-1 levels in non-diabetics when administered orally. Similarly, several amino acids increase ghrelin levels in different species while cysteine can decrease it in mice. There is evidence to suggest that the arginine/NO pathway may be involved in modulating some of the effects of ghrelin on cells. In regard to IGF-1, branched chain amino acids can increase levels in adults while tryptophan and phenylalanine have been shown to increase levels in infants. Finally, leptin levels can be elevated by branched chain amino acids while restricting leucine in high fat diets can increase leptin sensitivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

NO:

nitric oxide

IGF-1:

insulin-like growth factor 1

GLP1:

Glucagon-like peptide 1

BCAA:

branched chain amino acids

References

  • Abtahi S, Mirza A, Howell E, Currie PJ (2017) Ghrelin enhances food intake and carbohydrate oxidation in a nitric oxide dependent manner. Gen Comp Endocrinol 250:9–14

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Agostinelli E (2020) Biochemical and pathophysiological properties of polyamines. Amino Acids 52:111–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson LE, Shcherbina L, Al-Majdoub M, Vishnu N, Arroyo CB, Aste Carrara J, Wollheim CB, Fex M, Mulder H, Wierup N, Spegel P (2018) Glutamine-elicited secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 is governed by an activated glutamate dehydrogenase. Diabetes 67:372–384

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balage M, Dupont J, Mothe-Satney I, Tesseraud S, Mosoni L, Dardevet D (2011) Leucine supplementation in rats induced a delay in muscle IR/PI3K signaling pathway associated with overall impaired glucose tolerance. J Nutr Biochem 22:219–226

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks NE, Cadena SM, Cloutier G, Vega-Lopez S, Roubenoff R, Castaneda-Sceppa C (2014) Influence of exercise on the metabolic profile caused by 28 days of bed rest with energy deficit and amino acid supplementation in healthy men. Int J Med Sci 11:1248–1257

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chacrabati R, Gong Z, Ikenoya C, Kondo D, Zigman JM, Sakai T, Sakata I (2017) The effect of glutamate on ghrelin release in mice. Cell Biol Int 41:320–327

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chanet A, Verlaan S, Salles J, Giraudet C, Patrac V, Pidou V, Pouyet C, Hafnaoui N, Blot A, Cano N, Farigon N, Bongers A, Jourdan M, Luiking Y, Walrand S, Boirie Y (2017) Supplementing breakfast with a vitamin D and leucine–enriched whey protein medical nutrition drink enhances postprandial muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass in healthy older men. J Nutr 147:2262–2271

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chang J, Wu T, Greenfield JR, Samocha-Bonet D, Horowitz M, Rayner CK (2013) Effects of intraduodenal glutamine on incretin hormone and insulin release, the glycemic response to an intraduodenal glucose infusion, and antropyloroduodenal motility in health and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 36:2262–2265

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng S, Rhee E, Larson M, Lewis G, McCabe E, Shen D, Palma M, Roberts L, Dejam A, Souza A, Deik Amy A, Magnusson M, Fox C, O’Donnell C, Vasan Ramachandran S, Melander O, Clish Clary B, Gerszten R, Wang T (2012) Metabolite profiling identifies pathways associated with metabolic risk in humans. Circulation 125:2222–2231

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Q, Beltran VD, Chan SM, Brown JR, Bevington A, Herbert TP (2016) System-L amino acid transporters play a key role in pancreatic β-cell signalling and function. J Mol Endocrinol 56:175–187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Church DD, Schwarz NA, Spillane MB, McKinley-Barnard SK, Andre TL, Ramirez AJ, Willoughby DS (2016) L-leucine increases skeletal muscle IGF-1 but does not differentially increase Akt/mTORC1 signaling and serum IGF-1 compared to ursolic acid in response to resistance exercise in resistance-trained men. J Am Coll Nutr 35:627–638

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper-Dehoff RM, Hou W, Weng L, Baillie RA, Beitelshees AL, Gong Y, Shahin MH, Turner ST, Chapman A, Gums JG, Boyle SH, Zhu H, Wikoff WR, Boerwinkle E, Fiehn O, Frye RF, Kaddurah-Daouk R, Johnson JA (2014) Is diabetes mellitus-linked amino acid signature associated with β-blocker-induced impaired fasting glucose? Circ Cardiovasc Genet 7:199–205

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva DVT, Conte-Junior CA, Paschoalin VMF, Alvares Tda S (2014) Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals. Food Nutr Res 58:22569

    Google Scholar 

  • de Rosa V, Secondo A, Pannaccione A, Ciccone R, Formisano L, Guida N, Crispino R, Fico A, Polishchuk R, D’Aniello A, Annunziato L, Boscia F (2019) D-Aspartate treatment attenuates myelin damage and stimulates myelin repair. EMBO Mol Med 11:e9278

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deldicque L, Sanchez Canedo C, Horman S, De Potter I, Bertrand L, Hue L, Francaux M (2008) Antagonistic effects of leucine and glutamine on the mTOR pathway in myogenic C2C12 cells. Amino Acids 35:147–155

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Camillo B, Eduati F, Nair SK, Avogaro A, Toffolo GM (2014) Leucine modulates dynamic phosphorylation events in insulin signaling pathway and enhances insulin-dependent glycogen synthesis in human skeletal muscle cells. BMC Cell Biol 15:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Drucker DJ, Nauck MA (2006) The incretin system: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes. Lancet 368:1696–1705

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Du YT, Piscitelli D, Ahmad S, Trahair LG, Greenfield JR, Samocha-Bonet D, Rayner CK, Horowitz M, Jones KL (2018) Effects of glutamine on gastric emptying of low- and high-nutrient drinks in healthy young subjects- impact on glycaemia. Nutrients 10:E739

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Zeng L, Li F, Wang W, Li Y, Guo Q, Ji Y, Tan B, Yin Y (2017) Effect of branched-chain amino acid ratio on the proliferation, differentiation, and expression levels of key regulators involved in protein metabolism of myocytes. Nutrition 36:8–16

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • El Hiani Y, Egom EE, Dong XP (2019) mTOR signalling: jack-of-all-trades (1). Biochem Cell Biol 97:58–67

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elsabagh M, Ishikake M, Sakamoto Y, Haruno A, Miura M, Fujieda T, Obitsu T, Sugino T (2018) Postruminal supply of amino acids enhances ghrelin secretion and lipid metabolism in feed-deprived sheep. Anim Sci J 89:1663–1672

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elshorbagy AK, Samocha-Bonet D, Jerneren F, Turner C, Refsum H, Heilbronn LK (2018) Food overconsumption in healthy adults triggers early and sustained increases in serum branched-chain amino acids and changes in cysteine linked to fat gain. J Nutr 148:1073–1080

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enza Topo GF, Sorricellic A, Erricod F, Usiellod A, Antimo D (2010) Thyroid hormones and D-aspartic acid, D-aspartate oxidase, D-aspartate racemase, H2O2, and ROS in rats and mice. Chem Biodivers 7:1467–1478

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Errico F, D’Aniello A, Tolino A, D’Aniello G, Fisher GH, Di Fiore MM (2000) The role of D-aspartic acid and N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid in the regulation of prolactin release. Endocrinology 141:3862–3870

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Errico F, Nuzzo T, Carella M, Bertolino A, Usiello A (2018) The emerging role of altered D-aspartate metabolism in schizophrenia: new insights from preclinical models and human studies. Front Psychiatry 9:559

    Google Scholar 

  • Etoh S, Hamase K, Morikawa A, Ohgusu T, Zaitsu K (2009) Enantioselective visualization of D-alanine in rat anterior pituitary gland: localization to ACTH-secreting cells. Anal Bioanal Chem 393:217–223

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fei Xiao ZH, Houkai L, Junjie Y, Chunxia W, Shanghai C, Qingshu M, Ying C, Xiang G, Jia L, Yong L, Feifan G (2011) Leucine deprivation increases hepatic insulin sensitivity via GCN2/mTOR/S6K1 and AMPK pathways. Diabetes 60:746–756

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa A, Alvarez-Alvarado S, Jaime SJ, Kalfon R (2016) L-Citrulline supplementation attenuates blood pressure, wave reflection and arterial stiffness responses to metaboreflex and cold stress in overweight men. Br J Nutr 116:279–285

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fike CD, Dikalova A, Kaplowitz MR, Cunningham G, Summar M, Aschner JL (2015) Rescue treatment with L-citrulline inhibits hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in newborn pigs. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 53:255–264

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fleddermann M, Demmelmair H, Grote V, Bidlingmaier M, Grimminger P, Bielohuby M, Koletzko B (2017) Role of selected amino acids on plasma IGF-I concentration in infants. Eur J Nutr 56:613–620

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes SC, Harber V, Bell GJ (2014) Oral L-arginine before resistance exercise blunts growth hormone in strength trained males. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 24:236–244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fossat P, Turpin FR, Sacchi S, Dulong J, Shi T, Rivet JM, Sweedler JV, Pollegioni L, Millan MJ, Oliet SH, Mothet JP (2012) Glial D-serine gates NMDA receptors at excitatory synapses in prefrontal cortex. Cereb Cortex 22:595–606

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fukumori R, Yokotani A, Sugino T, Itoh F, Kushibiki S, Shingu H, Moriya N, Hasegawa Y, Kojima M, Kangawa K, Obitsu T, Taniguchi K (2011) Effects of amino acids infused into the vein on ghrelin-induced GH, insulin and glucagon secretion in lactating cows. Anim Sci J 82:267–273

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gran P, Cameron-Smith D (2011) The action of exogenous leucine on mTOR signalling and amino acid transporters in human myotubes. BMC Physiol 11:10

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray SM, Page LC, Tong J (2019) Ghrelin regulation of glucose metabolism. J Neuroendocrinol:e12705

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunnerud U, Holst JJ, Ostman E, Bjorck I (2012) The glycemic, insulinemic and plasma amino acid responses to equi-carbohydrate milk meals, a pilot- study of bovine and human milk. Nutr J 11:83

    Google Scholar 

  • Han H, Miyoshi Y, Koga R, Mita M, Konno R, Hamase K (2015) Changes in D-aspartic acid and D-glutamic acid levels in the tissues and physiological fluids of mice with various D-aspartate oxidase activities. J Pharm Biomed Anal 116:47–52

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hinz KM, Meyer K, Kinne A, Schülein R, Köhrle J, Krause G (2015) Structural insights into thyroid hormone transport mechanisms of the L-type amino acid transporter 2. Mol Endocrinol 29:933–942

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman JR, Gepner Y, Hoffman MW, Zelicha H, Shapira S, Ostfeld I (2018) Effect of high-dose, short-duration β-alanine supplementation on circulating IL-10 concentrations during intense military training. J Strength Cond Res 32:2978–2981

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horster I, Weigt-Usinger K, Carmann C, Chobanyan-Jurgens K, Kohler C, Schara U, Kayacelebi AA, Beckmann B, Tsikas D, Lucke T (2015) The L-arginine/NO pathway and homoarginine are altered in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and improved by glucocorticoids. Amino Acids 47:1853–1863

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hou YQ, He WL, Hu SD, Wu G (2019) Composition of polyamines and amino acids in plant-source foods for human consumption. Amino Acids 51:1153–1165

    Google Scholar 

  • Iverson JF, Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ (2013) Ingestion of leucine + phenylalanine with glucose produces an additive effect on serum insulin but less than additive effect on plasma glucose. J Amino Acids 2013:964637

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jennings A, MacGregor A, Spector T, Cassidy A (2016) Amino acid intakes are associated with bone mineral density and prevalence of low bone mass in women: evidence from discordant monozygotic twins. J Bone Miner Res 31:326–335

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jourdan M, Nair KS, Carter RE, Schimke J, Ford GC, Marc J, Aussel C, Cynober L (2015) Citrulline stimulates muscle protein synthesis in the post-absorptive state in healthy people fed a low-protein diet – a pilot study. Clin Nutr 34:449–456

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juszkiewicz A, Glapa A, Basta P, Petriczko E, Żołnowski K, Machaliński B, Trzeciak J, Łuczkowska K, Skarpańska-Stejnborn A (2019) The effect of L-theanine supplementation on the immune system of athletes exposed to strenuous physical exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 16:7

    Google Scholar 

  • Karakawa S, Miyoshi Y, Konno R, Koyanagi S, Mita M, Ohdo S, Hamase K (2013) Two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of day–night variation of d-alanine in mammals and factors controlling the circadian changes. Anal Bioanal Chem 405:8083–8091

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katagiri R, Goto A, Budhathoki S, Yamaji T, Yamamoto H, Kato Y, Iwasaki M, Tsugane S (2018) Association between plasma concentrations of branched-chain amino acids and adipokines in Japanese adults without diabetes. Sci Rep 8:1043

    Google Scholar 

  • Ke Q, Chen C, He F, Ye Y, Bai X, Cai L, Xia M (2018) Association between dietary protein intake and type 2 diabetes varies by dietary pattern. Diabetol Metab Syndr 10:48 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiriyama Y, Nochi H (2016) D-amino acids in the nervous and endocrine systems. Scientifica (Cairo) 2016:6494621

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitajima Y, Takahashi H, Akiyama T, Murayama K, Iwane S, Kuwashiro T, Tanaka K, Kawazoe S, Ono N, Eguchi T, Anzai K, Eguchi Y (2018) Supplementation with branched-chain amino acids ameliorates hypoalbuminemia, prevents sarcopenia, and reduces fat accumulation in the skeletal muscles of patients with liver cirrhosis. J Gastroenterol 53:427–437

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer IF, Verdijk LB, Hamer HM, Verlaan S, Luiking YC, Kouw IWK, Senden JM, van Kranenburg J, Gijsen AP, Bierau J, Poeze M, van Loon LJC (2017) Both basal and post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates, following the ingestion of a leucine-enriched whey protein supplement, are not impaired in sarcopenic older males. Clin Nutr 36:1440–1449

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krause G, Hinz KM (2017) Thyroid hormone transport across L-type amino acid transporters: what can molecular modelling tell us? Mol Cell Endocrinol 458:68–75

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kunle-Alabi T, Akindele O, Odoh M, Oghenetega B, Raji Y (2017) Comparative effects of coconut water and N-acetyl cysteine on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of male rats. Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 36:759–764

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Wu G (2020) Composition of amino acids and related nitrogenous nutrients in feedstuffs for animal diets. Amino Acids 52:523–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Li R, Ferreira MP, Cooke MB, La Bounty P, Campbell B, Greenwood M, Willoughby DS, Kreider RB (2015) Co-ingestion of carbohydrate with branched-chain amino acids or L-leucine does not preferentially increase serum IGF-1 and expression of myogenic-related genes in response to a single bout of resistance exercise. Amino Acids 47:1203–1213

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lim JA, Li L, Shirihai OS, Trudeau KM, Puertollano R, Raben N (2017) Modulation of mTOR signaling as a strategy for the treatment of Pompe disease. EMBO Mol Med 9:353–370

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren O, Pacini G, Tura A, Holst JJ, Deacon CF, Ahren B (2015) Incretin effect after oral amino acid ingestion in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100:1172–1176

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y, Dang S, Wang X, Zhang J, Zhang L, Su Q, Zhang H, Lin T, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Sun H, Zhu Z, Li H (2018) NO involvement in the inhibition of ghrelin on voltage-dependent potassium currents in rat hippocampal cells. Brain Res 1678:40–46

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lushchak O, Strilbytska OM, Yurkevych I, Vaiserman AM, Storey KB (2019) Implications of amino acid sensing and dietary protein to the aging process. Exp Gerontol 115:69–78

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macotela Y, Emanuelli B, Bang AM, Espinoza DO, Boucher J, Beebe K, Gall W, Kahn CR (2011) Dietary leucine- an environmental modifier of insulin resistance acting on multiple levels of metabolism. PLoS One 6:e21187

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maechler P, Wollheim CB (1999) Mitochondrial glutamate acts as a messenger in glucose-induced insulin exocytosis. Nature 402:685–689

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martins CEC, Lima VBS, Schoenfeld BJ, Tirapegui J (2017) Effects of leucine supplementation and resistance training on myopathy of diabetic rats. Physiol Rep 5:e13273

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Massa NM, Silva AS, Toscano LT, Silva JD, Persuhn DC, Goncalves MC (2016) Watermelon extract reduces blood pressure but does not change sympathovagal balance in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects. Blood Press 25:244–248

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGavigan AK, O’Hara HC, Amin A, Kinsey-Jones J, Spreckley E, Alamshah A, Agahi A, Banks K, France R, Hyberg G, Wong C, Bewick GA, Gardiner JV, Lehmann A, Martin NM, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR, Murphy KG (2015) L-cysteine suppresses ghrelin and reduces appetite in rodents and humans. Int J Obes 39:447–455

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGlory C, Devries MC, Phillips SM, Baker SK, Kamil A, Bolster DR, Harkness L, Rahn M (2018) Leucine, not total protein, content of a supplement is the primary determinant of muscle protein anabolic responses in healthy older women. J Nutr 148:1088–1095

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNeal CJ, Meininger CJ, Wilborn CD, Tekwe CD, Wu G (2018) Safety of dietary supplementation with arginine in adult humans. Amino Acids 50:1215–1229

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Menzel D, Haller H, Wilhelm M, Robenek H (2018) L-Arginine and B vitamins improve endothelial function in subjects with mild to moderate blood pressure elevation. Eur J Nutr 57:557–568

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer-Gerspach AC, Hafliger S, Meili J, Doody A, Rehfeld JF, Drewe J, Beglinger C, Wolnerhanssen B (2016) Effect of L-tryptophan and L-leucine on gut hormone secretion, appetite feelings and gastric emptying rates in lean and non-diabetic obese participants: A randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. PLoS One 11:e0166758

    Google Scholar 

  • Monti LD, Galluccio E, Villa V, Fontana B, Spadoni S, Piatti PM (2018) Decreased diabetes risk over 9 year after 18-month oral L-arginine treatment in middle-aged subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and metabolic syndrome (extension evaluation of L-arginine study). Eur J Nutr 57:2805–2817

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newgard CB, An J, Bain JR, Muehlbauer MJ, Stevens RD, Lien LF, Haqq AM, Shah SH, Arlotto M, Slentz CA, Rochon J, Gallup D, Ilkayeva O, Wenner BR, Yancy WS, Eisenson H, Musante G, Surwit RS, Millington DS, Butler MD, Svetkey LP (2009) A branched-chain amino acid-related metabolic signature that differentiates obese and lean humans and contributes to insulin resistance. Cell Metab 9:311–326

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Okekunle AP, Li Y, Liu L, Du S, Wu X, Chen Y, Li Y, Qi J, Sun C, Feng R (2017) Abnormal circulating amino acid profiles in multiple metabolic disorders. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 132:45–58

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otter S, Lammert E (2016) Exciting times for pancreatic islets: glutamate signaling in endocrine cells. Trends Endocrinol Metab 27:177–188

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preiss D, Rankin N, Welsh P, Holman RR, Kangas AJ, Soininen P, Wurtz P, Ala-Korpela M, Sattar N (2016) Effect of metformin therapy on circulating amino acids in a randomized trial: the CAMERA study. Diabet Med 33:1569–1574

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raucci F, D’Aniello A, Di Fiore MM (2014) Stimulation of androgen production by D-aspartate through the enhancement of StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD mRNA levels in vivo rat testis and in culture of immature rat Leydig cells. Steroids 84:103–110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rhee SY, Jung ES, Park HM, Jeong SJ, Kim K, Chon S, Yu S-Y, Woo J-T, Lee CH (2018) Plasma glutamine and glutamic acid are potential biomarkers for predicting diabetic retinopathy. Metabolomics 14:89

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg D, Artoul S, Segal AC, Kolodney G, Radzishevsky I, Dikopoltsev E, Foltyn VN, Inoue R, Mori H, Billard JM, Wolosker H (2013) Neuronal D-serine and glycine release via the Asc-1 transporter regulates NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic activity. J Neurosci 33:3533–3544

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Samocha-Bonet D, Wong O, Synnott E-L, Piyaratna N, Douglas A, Gribble FM, Holst JJ, Chisholm DJ, Greenfield JR (2011) Glutamine reduces postprandial glycemia and augments the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 response in type 2 diabetes patients. J Nutr 141:1233–1238

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Samocha-Bonet D, Chisholm DJ, Holst JJ, Greenfield JR (2015) L-glutamine and whole protein restore first-phase insulin response and increase glucagon-like peptide-1 in type 2 diabetes patients. Nutrients 7:2101–2108

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Santillo A, Falvo S, Chieffi P, Burrone L, Chieffi Baccari G, Longobardi S, Di Fiore MM (2014) D-aspartate affects NMDA receptor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway and upregulates androgen receptor expression in the rat testis. Theriogenology 81:744–751

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sato Y, Sato Y, Obeng KA, Yoshizawa F (2018) Acute oral administration of L-leucine upregulates slow-fiber- and mitochondria-related genes in skeletal muscle of rats. Nutr Res 57:36–44

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sekar R, Singh K, Arokiaraj AW, Chow BK (2016) Pharmacological actions of glucagon-like Peptide-1, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, and glucagon. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol 326:279–341

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smeets ETHC, Schutzler SE, Wei JY, Azhar G, Wolfe RR (2017) Do anabolic nutritional supplements stimulate human growth hormone secretion in elderly women with heart failure? Physiol Rep 5:e13366

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Steinert RE, Ullrich SS, Geary N, Asarian L, Bueter M, Horowitz M, Feinle-Bisset C (2017) Comparative effects of intraduodenal amino acid infusions on food intake and gut hormone release in healthy males. Physiol Rep 5:e13492

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Suwanjang W, Holmstrom KM, Chetsawang B, Abramov AY (2013) Glucocorticoids reduce intracellular calcium concentration and protects neurons against glutamate toxicity. Cell Calcium 53:256–263

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki M, Imanishi N, Mita M, Hamase K, Aiso S, Sasabe J (2017) Heterogeneity of D-serine distribution in the human central nervous system. ASN Neuro 9:1759091417713905

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka-Hayashi A, Hayashi S, Inoue R, Ito T, Konno K, Yoshida T, Watanabe M, Yoshimura T, Mori H (2015) Is D-aspartate produced by glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase-1 like 1 (Got1l1): a putative aspartate racemase? Amino Acids 47:79–86

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tessier AJ, Chevalier S (2018) An update on protein, leucine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and functional decline. Nutrients 10:1099

    Google Scholar 

  • Teymoori F, Asghari G, Mirmiran P, Azizi F (2017) Dietary amino acids and incidence of hypertension: A principle component analysis approach. Sci Rep 7:16838

    Google Scholar 

  • Teymoori F, Asghari G, Mirmiran P, Azizi F (2018) High dietary intake of aromatic amino acids increases risk of hypertension. J Am Soc Hypertens 12:25–33

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Topo E, Soricelli A, D’Aniello A, Ronsini S, D’Aniello G (2009) The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 7:120

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsikas D, Wu (2015) Homoarginine, arginine, and relatives: Analysis, metabolism, transport, physiology, and pathology. Amino Acids 47:1697–1702

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsuboi T, Maeda M, Hayashi T (2018) Administration of L-arginine plus L-citrulline or L-citrulline alone successfully retarded endothelial senescence. PLoS One 13:e0192252

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wandita TG, Joshi N, Nam IS, Yang SH, Park HS, Hwang SG (2018) Dietary supplementation of purified amino acid derived from animal blood on immune response and growth performance of broiler chicken. Trop Anim Sci J 41:108–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang TJ, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Cheng S, Rhee EP, McCabe E, Lewis GD, Fox CS, Jacques PF, Fernandez C, O’Donnell CJ, Carr SA, Mootha VK, Florez JC, Souza A, Melander O, Clish CB, Gerszten RE (2011) Metabolite profiles and the risk of developing diabetes. Nat Med 17:448–453

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XJ, Yang X, Wang RX, Jiao HC, Zhao JP, Song ZG, Lin H (2016) Leucine alleviates dexamethasone-induced suppression of muscle protein synthesis via synergy involvement of mTOR and AMPK pathways. Biosci Rep 36:e00346

    Google Scholar 

  • Weng L, Quinlivan E, Gong Y, Beitelshees AL, Shahin MH, Turner ST, Chapman AB, Gums JG, Johnson JA, Frye RF, Garrett TJ, Cooper-DeHoff RM (2015) Association of branched and aromatic amino acids levels with metabolic syndrome and impaired fasting glucose in hypertensive patients. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 13:195–202

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wu G (2009) Amino acids: metabolism, functions, and nutrition. Amino Acids 37:1–17

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu G (2013) Amino Acids: Biochemistry and Nutrition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu G (2016) Dietary protein intake and human health. Food Funct 7:1251–1265

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu G (2020) Important roles of dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and hydroxyproline in human nutrition and health. Amino Acids 52:329–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu CS, Wei Q, Wang H, Kim DM, Balderas M, Wu G, Lawler J, Safe S, Guo S, Devaraj S, Chen Z, Sun Y (2020) Protective effects of ghrelin on fasting-induced muscle atrophy in aging mice. J Gerontol A 75:621–630

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin J, Han H, Li Y, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Fang R, Huang X, Zheng J, Ren W, Wu F, Liu G, Wu X, Wang K, Sun L, Li C, Li T, Yin Y (2017) Lysine restriction affects feed intake and amino acid metabolism via gut microbiome in piglets. Cell Physiol Biochem 44:1749–1761

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan XW, Han SF, Zhang JW, Xu JY, Qin LQ (2015) Leucine supplementation improves leptin sensitivity in high-fat diet fed rats. Food Nutr Res 59:27373

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeanandin G, Balage M, Schneider SM, Dupont J, Hebuterne X, Mothe-Satney I, Dardevet D (2012) Differential effect of long-term leucine supplementation on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in old rats: an insulin signaling pathway approach. Age 34:371–387

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zevenbergen C, Meima ME, Lima de Souza EC, Peeters RP, Kinne A, Krause G, Visser WE, Visser TJ (2015) Transport of iodothyronines by human L-type amino acid transporters. Endocrinology 156:4345–4455

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Adelman AS, Rai D, Boettcher J, Lonnerdal B (2013) Amino acid profiles in term and preterm human milk through lactation: a systematic review. Nutrients 5:4800–4821

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation to the Welch Foundation (Grant # AE-025) for their support of Max Shaw in this and other scholarly pursuits.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Physics, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX, USA

    Nick E. Flynn, Max H. Shaw & Jace T. Becker

Authors
  1. Nick E. Flynn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Max H. Shaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jace T. Becker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nick E. Flynn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Guoyao Wu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Flynn, N.E., Shaw, M.H., Becker, J.T. (2020). Amino Acids in Health and Endocrine Function. In: Wu, G. (eds) Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1265. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45328-2_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation