ketogenic Amino Acids and Glucogenic Amino Acids an Overview

In this article, we will discuss ketogenic Amino Acids and Glucogenic Amino acids in detail.
Ketogenic Amino Acids are an amino acid that may be degraded directly into acetyl-CoA, which is the precursor of ketone bodies and “myelin, particularly throughout early development when brain myelin synthesis is extremely high” as per according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). furthermore, this is in contrast to the glucogenic amino acids, which are converted into glucose. Therefore, Ketogenic amino acids are unable to be regenerate (i.e. unable to be converted) to glucose as both carbon atoms in the ketone body are ultimately degraded to carbon dioxide within the citric acid cycle.
In humans, two(2) amino acids are exclusively ketogenic:
(remembered as all the “L” amino acids)
Leucine
Lysine
In humans, five(5) amino acids are both glucogenic and ketogenic:

(Note: The useful mnemonic “FITTT” or “PITTT” and includes all the aromatic amino acids)
Phenylalanine (abbreviated Phe or F, in contrast to Proline that is Pro or P, which is based on their respective pronunciations)
Isoleucine
Threonine (many authors do not recognize it as a ketogenic amino acid)
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
In humans, the remaining thirteen(13) amino acids are exclusively glucogenic (i.e. aren’t ketogenic)

Ketogenic Amino Acid Role in The Human Body

As the building blocks of proteins, amino acids play an important role in the given structure of your body. They play numerous roles—in healing, energy production, and tissue repair. furthermore, some of the twenty amino acids that build body proteins are essential, which means that you simply should get them from your diet.

Against this, your body will manufacture enough non-essential amino acids to meet its needs. Depending on the way your body metabolizes them, amino acids can even be classified as glucogenic-ketogenic or glucogenic, ketogenic.

It serves very important roles in the human body, The ketogenic amino acid-rich diets as a possible treatment for diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, dietary studies of fatty liver disease in mice show that decreasing the intake of threonine and ketogenic amino acid lysine may induce hepatic steatosis, a major reason for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Furthermore, Lysine in particular has been shown to serve an important role in the metabolic pathway for insulin via activation of the rapamycin complex one (mTORC1) and protein S6 kinase one (S6K1) that over-activation leads to insulin resistance. Furthermore, studies illustrate that ketogenic amino acid-rich diets could aid in decreasing insulin resistance and obesity, however, their usage remains disputed.

Glucogenic and Ketogenic Amino Acids

As it does with fats and carbohydrates, your body metabolizes the amino acids in proteins to derive energy. Glucogenic amino acids yield glucose for energy production, whereas the body converts ketogenic amino acids into soluble compounds which are called ketone bodies via a process referred to as ketogenesis.

Furthermore, it specifically forms a kind of ketone body called as acetoacetate, either directly or by 1st yielding the intermediary compound acetyl-CoA. Thus, glucose is your body’s most preferred energy currency, however, ketone bodies give an alternate fuel source when glucose is unavailable. There are seven ketogenic amino acids.

Leucine

Leucine is also an essential and important exclusively ketogenic amino acid. Its breakdown produces acetoacetate and acetyl-CoA. Along with ketogenic amino acid isoleucine, leucine helps to produce energy in promotes protein synthesis and your muscles. Leucine has a regulatory important role in the chemical reactions which drive the weight loss effects of the high protein diets. Therefore, The Rich dietary sources of leucine are beef, salmon, lentils, peanuts, and soybeans.

Lysine

Lysine is an important and exclusively ketogenic amino acid. which helps your body to produce carnitine, a nutrient that metabolizes fatty acids into energy and also helps to lower cholesterol. Therefore, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lysine also helps with the formation of collagen and calcium absorption, the protein which makes your bones, tendons, skin firm, and cartilage. Lysine breakdown ultimately yields the ketone body acetoacetyl-CoA which is used to energy production. Lysine-rich foods include beans, fish, peas, lentils, and meats.

Glucogenic-Ketogenic Amino Acids

amino acids whose breakdown ultimately yields ketone and glucose bodies. They are therefore both glucogenic and ketogenic. furthermore, there are four essential and most important amino acids isoleucine, threonine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine. tyrosine amino acids are non-essential and convert to acetoacetate during its breakdown. leucine and Isoleucine breakdown primarily occurs in your muscles and your liver metabolizes all the other amino acids.

Metabolic Catabolism of Amino Acids

The catabolism of amino acids converts their carbon backbone into citric acid cycle intermediates or their precursors; therefore, they will be subsequently metabolized to CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2O (water)releasing ATP or used to produce glucose (i.e. gluconeogenesis)

Moreover, the oxidative breakdown of amino acids generally accounts for 10–15 % of metabolic energy that’s generated by animals. Here, we explain how every single amino acid is catabolized. the amino acids are characterized by different carbon skeletons, therefore, the conversions to citric acid cycle intermediates often involve the transamination with glycolytic or tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. There are twenty-one (21) standard amino acids are broken down into one of six metabolic intermediates: succinyl-CoA, pyruvate, fumarate, 2-oxoglutarate, oxaloacetate, acetyl-CoA, or acetoacetate.

Therefore, amino acids can be categorized into 2 (two) types, which depending upon their catabolic pathways:

1. Glucogenic amino acids: The carbon skeletons are regenerate into succinyl-CoA, pyruvate, fumarate, 2-oxoglutarate, and oxalacetate and that they act as aldohexose precursors.

2. Ketogenic amino acids: The carbon skeletons are catabolized to acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate and it can lead to the production of the fatty acids or ketone bodies.

Metabolism of some amino acids might cause the formation of more than one of the above-listed metabolic intermediates and these amino acids belong to each category: ketogenic and glucogenic. as an example, the isoleucine catabolism, which produces both acetyl-CoA, which makes it a succinyl-CoA and ketogenic amino acid, and Therefore, which leads to glucose production.

Glucogenic Vs Ketogenic Amino Acids

Amino acids can be classified as being “glucogenic” or “ketogenic” which is based on the type of intermediates that are formed during their breakdown or catabolism. Furthermore, The catabolism of glucogenic amino acids produces either pyruvate or one of the intermediates in the Krebs Cycle. Therefore, The catabolism of ketogenic amino acids produces acetoacetyl CoA or acetyl CoA.

There is a rare medical condition in that a person is deficient in the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme which converts pyruvate to acetyl CoA – a precursor for the Krebs Cycle. thus, Signs and symptoms vary, but there are generally two main manifestations. therefore, First, patients can have an elevated blood lactate (lactic acid) level. Second, patients may have neurological defects, including microcephaly and/or mental retardation. Treatment is currently limited and not very effective. Moreover, damage to the brain is often irreversible.

What Amino Acid is added to ketogenic List

• Leucine
• Lysine
• Phenylalanine
• Tryptophan
• Leucine
• Isoleucine
• Tryptophan