Learn about the properties and uses of dicarboxylic amino acids in bodybuilding. Thanks to this, you will be able to increase muscle mass and strength. A fairly large number of substances belong to the group of dicarboxylic amino acid compounds, but the most common are glutamic and aspartic acids. In the body, they are converted to asparagine and glutamine. Now dicarboxylic amino acids in bodybuilding are used more and more actively, and it's time to talk about them in more detail.
There is such a term - "the integration of nitrogen exchange". As you know, each food product has a set of certain amino acid compounds, and when the body is deficient in one of them, it is synthesized from other amino acids.
Amino acid compounds are usually divided into two groups: nonessential and irreplaceable. It is the substances in the first group that are capable of converting. This is where the uniqueness of aspartic and glutamic acids lies. For conversion to another compound, the nonessential amino acids are first converted to one of the dicarboxylic amino acid compounds. This suggests that these compounds are very important for the normalization of nitrogen balance.
It is also necessary to remember about the redistribution of nitrogen in the body. At the moment when there is a deficiency of protein compounds in the body, the body redistributes nitrogen, which implies the removal of protein compounds from some organs and their transfer to others.
Most often, transport protein compounds in the blood are used for these purposes. If their supply has come to an end, then proteins begin to be taken from the tissues of internal organs. The body never uses the protein compounds of the brain and heart, since these organs are of paramount importance. It is in order for the body not to take proteins from other organs that these substances must be supplied in sufficient quantities with food.
Aspartic acid properties
Let's take a closer look at dicarboxylic amino acids in bodybuilding and start with aspartic acid. In terms of its prevalence in the body, this substance is significantly inferior to glutamic acid. It is not only used by the body in the redistribution of nitrogen, but also promotes the elimination of ammonia from the body. This is due to the ability of the substance to attach to itself the molecules of toxic ammonia, while converting into asparagine, and also to accelerate the excretion of urea from the body.
It is also necessary to remember about two other main functions of the substance:
- Participation in the process of gluconeogenesis, in which the substance is converted into glycogen;
- Participation in the production of anserine and carnosine.
Aspartic acid helps to increase the permeability of cell membranes for important minerals such as magnesium and potassium. It is the only amino acid compound with this ability. Having delivered magnesium and potassium to the taphole, aspartic acid takes an active part in cellular metabolism. An increase in the general endurance of the body is associated with this feature.
The use of aspartic acid in bodybuilding
Aspartic acid is used by athletes in fairly large dosages, amounting to 18-30 grams with a daily intake. On the other hand, these are not such large doses, if we take into account the daily requirement of the body for potassium and magnesium. When athletes use aspartic acid, it must be remembered that at the same time it is necessary to take a commensurate amount of magnesium and potassium, since in excess, aspartic acid is converted into glucose.
Appointment of glutamic acid
It is glutamic acid that plays a major role in the redistribution of nitrogen. Actually, it is the most common amino acid compound in the body, the share of which is 25% of the total number of all amino acids. For several years this substance was referred to the group of nonessential amino acids, but recent studies have shown that for some body tissues it is indispensable.
Among the main functions of the amino acid, the following should be highlighted:
- Participates in the redistribution of nitrogen;
- Eliminates ammonia; actively participates in the synthesis of carbohydrates and other amino acids;
- When a substance is oxidized in the cells of the brain, energy is released in the form of ATP molecules;
- Promotes the delivery of potassium to tissue cells.
This is just a small part of the functions that glutamic acid is designed to perform. It has already been said above that all nonessential amino acid compounds can be synthesized from glutamic acid.
Also, the substance takes an active part in the synthesis of several vitamins, such as folic acid and n-aminobenzoic acid (ABA). A lot of information can be found about folic acid, but a few words should be said about ABA.
Previously, scientists believed that ABA is a precursor of folic acid, but now it has been established that this substance performs quite important functions in the body. For example, Novocain is created from ABK.
The use of glutamic acid
The average dosage of the substance in traditional medicine is in the range of 20 to 25 grams of daily use. For obvious reasons, athletes consume significantly more of the substance, the dosages of which start from 30 grams of daily use. This is not only due to the fact that at the moment there have been no side effects associated with an overdose of glutamic acid.
When prescribing dosages of a substance, it should be remembered that glutamic acid is part of protein compounds. For every 100 grams of protein foods, there are about 25 grams of glutamine. Current medical guidelines for the use of glutamic acid should be considered upward. This is due to the fact that they were developed back in the sixties and do not take into account the results of modern research. The quantities that athletes use are more optimal.
Learn more about aspartic acid in this video:
