L-Aspartic acid

Absorption

Absorbed from the small intestine by an active transport process

Toxicity

Mild gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea. LD50 (rat) > 5,000 mg/kg.

Description

L-Aspartic acid is the L-form of the aspartic acid. It is one of the 20 amino acids that used in the protein synthesis. It is the non-essential amino acids for humans as it can be synthesized in vivo. It is important in the synthesis of other amino acids and some nucleotides, and is a metabolite in the citric acid and urea cycles. In animals, it may be used as a neurotransmitter. It can be chemically synthesize from the diethyl sodium phthalimidomalonate. Currently, almost all the aspartic acids are manufactured in China. Its application include being used as low calorie sweetener (as the part of the aspartame), scale and corrosion inhibitor, and in resins. One of its growing applications is for the manufacturing of biodegradable superabsorbent polymer, polyaspartic acid. It can also be used in fertilizer industry to improve water retention and nitrogen uptake.

The Uses of L-Aspartic acid

L-aspartic acid is used as a dietary supplement, it can be blended with minerals to make compounds like potassium aspartate, copper aspartate, manganese aspartate, magnesium aspartate, zinc aspartate and more. Increasing the absorption, and hence utilization potentials, of these minerals via the addition of aspartate induces certain health benefits. Many athletes use L-aspartic acid-based mineral supplements orally to enhance their performance capacities. Aspartic acid and glutamic acid play important roles as general acids in enzyme active centers, as well as in maintaining the solubility and ionic character of proteins. It can help promote a robust metabolism, and is sometimes used to treat fatigue and depression. Aspartic acid is used as a component of parenteral and enteral nutrition. In pharmaceutical agents aspartic acid is used as an ammoniac detoxicating agent, hepar function accelerator and fatigue refresher.

Background

One of the non-essential amino acids commonly occurring in the L-form. It is found in animals and plants, especially in sugar cane and sugar beets. It may be a neurotransmitter.

Indications

There is no support for the claim that aspartates are exercise performance enhancers, i.e. ergogenic aids.

Pharmacokinetics

L-aspartate is considered a non-essential amino acid, meaning that, under normal physiological conditions, sufficient amounts of the amino acid are synthesized in the body to meet the body's requirements. L-aspartate is formed by the transamination of the Krebs cycle intermediate oxaloacetate. The amino acid serves as a precursor for synthesis of proteins, oligopeptides, purines, pyrimidines, nucleic acids and L-arginine. L-aspartate is a glycogenic amino acid, and it can also promote energy production via its metabolism in the Krebs cycle. These latter activities were the rationale for the claim that supplemental aspartate has an anti-fatigue effect on skeletal muscle, a claim that was never confirmed.

Metabolism

Not Available