Conditionally essential amino acids are nonessential amino acids that become essential under certain circumstances. This means your body usually produces enough of them, but may need to obtain them from your diet during specific times of illness, stress, or growth.
The Seven Conditionally Essential Amino Acids
There are seven amino acids that fall under this category:
- Arginine: Important for wound healing and immune function. Demand increases during growth periods and illness.
- Cysteine: A precursor to glutathione, an important antioxidant. Needs may increase during oxidative stress.
- Glutamine: Plays a vital role in gut health and immune function. Demand rises during illness and injury.
- Glycine: Involved in collagen synthesis and neurotransmitter production. Requirement may be elevated during rapid growth or tissue repair.
- Proline: Crucial for collagen production. Increased demand during wound healing and growth.
- Serine: A precursor to other important molecules; needed for growth and immune function.
- Tyrosine: A precursor to several neurotransmitters. Its need increases under stress and during certain medical conditions.
These amino acids are conditionally essential because their synthesis can be insufficient to meet bodily needs during specific situations. This insufficiency necessitates obtaining them through dietary intake. For example, individuals experiencing rapid growth (infancy, childhood) or those recovering from illness or injury might require increased intake of these amino acids.
