What are the hazards of consuming amino acid supplements?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Single amino acids do not occur naturally in foods and offer no benefit to the body; in fact, they may be harmful. The body was not de- signed to handle the high concentrations and unusual combinations of amino acids found in supplements. Large doses of amino acids cause diarrhea. An excess of one amino acid can create such a demand for a carrier that it limits the absorption of another amino acid, presenting the possibility of a deficiency. Those amino acids winning the competition enter in excess, creating the possibility of toxicity. Anyone considering taking amino acid supplements should be cautious not to exceed levels normally found in foods.

Most healthy athletes eating well-balanced diets do not need amino acid supplements. Advertisers point to research that identifies the branched-chain amino acids as the main ones used as fuel by exercising muscles. What the ads leave out is that compared to glucose and fatty acids, branched-chain amino acids provide very little fuel and that ordinary foods provide them in abundance anyway. Large doses of branched-chain amino acids can raise plasma ammonia concentrations, which can be toxic to the brain. Branched-chain amino acid supplements may be beneficial in conditions such as liver disease, but otherwise, they are not routinely recommended.