Systemic amino acid supplementation

Systemic amino acid supplementation refers to the therapeutic administration of essential and conditionally essential amino acids, such as leucine, isoleucine, arginine, and glutamine, to address deficiencies in conditions like sarcopenia, cachexia, and muscle wasting. It promotes protein synthesis, reverses catabolism, and activates pathways like mTOR and Sirt-1 for muscle maintenance and mitochondrial biogenesis, while supporting immune function and energy metabolism. In diseases including cancer, COPD, liver/renal disorders, and Parkinson's, it counters wasting syndromes but targets vulnerabilities like transporter dependencies (e.g., LAT1, ASCT2) or specific amino acid restrictions (e.g., arginine depletion via ADI-PEG 20). Therapeutic approaches include dietary supplements, parenteral nutrition, or transporter inhibitors, with benefits in improving strength and lifespan but challenges from adaptation, imbalances, and safety issues like NO dysregulation. Biomarkers such as plasma levels and transporter expression guide use, emphasizing precision over broad supplementation.

Other names

essential amino acid supplementationEAA supplementationtargeted amino acid supplementamino acid nutritional therapy

Nutrient depletion (e.g., arginine depletion suppressing mTORC1 and polyamines), transporter inhibition (e.g., blocking LAT1/ASCT2/SNAT2 uptake of amino acids like leucine/glutamine/alanine), supplementation-induced stress (e.g., histidine/BCAA overload causing ROS/GSH depletion or mTORC1 activation), dietary restriction (e.g., methionine/lysine/threonine limiting epigenetic flux or translation)