Editors:
- Highlights recent advances in our understanding of the interorgan metabolism of amino acids, as well as their roles in regulating cell-specific gene expression, anti-inflammatory responses, and whole-body homeostasis in humans and non-primate animals
- Addresses dietary intakes of amino acids by humans and non-primate animals, as well as the crucial roles of amino acids in enhancing lean body mass and exercise performance, and improving metabolic, cardiovascular, and reproductive health
- Provides practical solutions through dietary supplementation with amino acids (including arginine) to reduce obesity and hypertension, alleviate erectile dysfunction and sickle cell disease, inhibit carcinogenesis, and mitigate the global COVID-19 pandemic
Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (AEMB, volume 1332)
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Front Matter
About this book
This book explains about amino acids (AAs) which are not only building blocks of protein, but are also signaling molecules as well as regulators of gene expression and the protein phosphorylation cascade. Additionally, AAs are key precursors for syntheses of hormones and low-molecular-weight nitrogenous substances with each having enormous biological importance. For example, physiological concentrations of AA metabolites (e.g., nitric oxide, polyamines, glutathione, taurine, thyroid hormones, and serotonin) are required for cell functions. Growing evidence shows that humans and animals have dietary requirements for all proteinogenic AAs. Mammals, birds, and fish also have species- and age-dependent needs for some AA-related substances. However, elevated levels of other products (e.g., ammonia, homocysteine, H2S, and asymmetric dimethylarginine) are pathogenic factors for neurological disorders, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular disease. Thus, optimal amounts of AAs and their ratios in diets and circulation are crucial for whole-body homeostasis and health. Adequate provision of one or a mixture of functional AAs or metabolites may be beneficial for ameliorating health problems at various stages of the life cycle (e.g., fetal growth restriction, neonatal morbidity and mortality, weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and wasting syndrome, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, and infertility). Dietary supplementation of these nutrients can also optimize the efficiency of metabolic transformations to enhance muscle growth, milk production, and athletic performance, while preventing excess fat deposition and reducing adiposity. Therefore, functional AAs hold great promise in improving the growth, health, and well-being of individuals.
Editors and Affiliations
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Texas A&M Univesity, College Station, USA
Guoyao Wu
About the editor
Guoyao Wu is Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Fellow, and AgriLife Research Senior Faculty Fellow in the Department of Animal Science. He also holds appointments with the Graduate Faculty of Nutrition, the Departments of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine and Veterinary Integrative Biosciences.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, a master’s degree in animal nutrition from Beijing Agricultural University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in animal biochemistry from the University of Alberta in Canada. He received postdoctoral training in biochemistry and nutrition at McGill University Medical School in Montreal, Canada, and at the Memorial University of Newfoundland Medical School in St. John’s, Canada.
Dr. Wu teaches graduate courses in protein metabolism and nutritional biochemistry. He conducts research in protein and amino acid metabolism at molecular, cellular, and whole-body levels. The animal models used in his research include cattle, chicks, pigs, rats, and sheep.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health
Book Subtitle: Amino Acids in Gene Expression, Metabolic Regulation, and Exercising Performance
Editors: Guoyao Wu
Series Title: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74180-8
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-74179-2Published: 13 July 2021
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-74182-2Published: 14 July 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-74180-8Published: 12 July 2021
Series ISSN: 0065-2598
Series E-ISSN: 2214-8019
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: VI, 227
Number of Illustrations: 12 b/w illustrations, 22 illustrations in colour
Topics: Immunology, Medicine/Public Health, general, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, general, Nutrition