Amino acids are the organic compounds that form the building blocks of body proteins, or peptides. Each amino acid molecule consists of amino nitrogen and carboxylic acid groups, which bind to carbon atoms. The single amino acid molecules are also linked to each other and are referred to as peptide bonds. This gives rise to chains of molecules called polypeptides. These chains are again linked by peptide bonds and protein molecules formed manner.
In our body there is a large amount of amino acids, substances that are essential for humans, for example hormones, histamine, and other pigments. Then there are derivatives, called biogenic amines, known as neurotransmitters (transfer excitation) in nerve transmission. These include dopamine, noradrenaline and others. Also, the amino acids formed substances that affect cell growth (spermine, spermidine).
All proteins in our body consists of about 20 amino acids. These include glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, arginine, lysine, Histidine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, tryptophan, methionine, cysteine and proline.
Amino acids are divided into essential (the body can not produce them, are reliant on dietary intake) and non-essential (the ones you can make). Of the twenty eight of those are essential. In addition to these there are still two hundred twenty amino acids that occur in proteins but play an important role in chemical reactions within cells.
Amino acids are often found in various food supplements. It is often used in food supplements in bodybuilding, which helps to maintain a positive nitrogen balance, increase muscle mass. Amino acids are also used in slimming diets.