I started to gather this information on the essential and nonessential amino
acids for my own use, but then it occurred to me to share this with my
friends. My understanding of the difference between essential and non
essential amino acids is that if your body gets enough of the essential amino
acids, it will produce the non essential amino acids itself. Your body has
to get the essential amino acids from either the foods you eat or
supplementation. All of this is based on the assumption that adequate diet
and proper digestion is good.
I believe that some amino acids have a direct effect on hypothyroidism, as
well as many other medical conditions. All of the below has been copied and
pasted from: Rick Hall - your About.com Guide to:
Nutrition
Ira
Isoleucine
Type
Essential Amino Acid, Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)
Functions
Blood-sugar regulation, muscle development and repair, hemoglobin
development, energy regulation
Deficiencies
Possible dizziness, headaches, fatigue, depression, confusion, irritability
Toxicity
Elevated urination
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
31 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
28 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
10 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Eggs, fish, lentils, poultry, beef, seeds, soy, wheat, almonds, dairy
Leucine
Type
Essential Amino Acid, Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)
Functions
Blood-sugar regulation, growth and repair of muscle tissue, hormone
production, wound healing, energy regulation
Deficiencies
Possible dizziness, headaches, fatigue, depression, confusion, irritability,
hypoglycemia in infants
Toxicity
Hypoglycemia, possible pellagra
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
73 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
44 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
14 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Eggs, fish, lentils, poultry, beef, seeds, soy, wheat, almonds, dairy, beans,
brown rice
Phenylalanine
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
Increases blood levels of norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine,
neurotransmitter function
Deficiencies
Rare. Slowed growth, lethargy, liver damage, weakness, edema, skin lesions
Toxicity
Rare. Decreased/increased blood pressure, headaches
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
69 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
22 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
14 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Dairy, almonds, avocados, lima beans, peanuts, seeds
Threonine
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
Antibody production, can be converted to glycine and serine
Deficiencies
Rare. Skin disorders, weakness.
Toxicity
None known
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
37 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
28 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
7 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Dairy, beef, poultry, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds
Valine
Type
Essential Amino Acid, Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)
Functions
Growth and repair of muscle tissue, energy regulation
Deficiencies
None known
Toxicity
Possible hallucinations
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
38 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
25 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
10 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Eggs, mushrooms, nuts, poultry, beef, soy, grain, dairy
Histidine
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
Growth, tissue repair, histamine development
Deficiencies
None known
Toxicity
Stress, possible anxiety disorders
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
8-10 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Pork, poultry, rice, wheat, cheese
Lysine
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
Promotes calcium absorption, growth and repair of muscle tissue, lowers serum
triglycerides, development and regulation of: collagen, antibodies, hormones
and enzymes.
Deficiencies
Rare. Possible stunted growth, anemia, hair loss, decreased appetite, weight
loss, decreased energy, irritability.
Toxicity
Unknown.
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
64 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
44 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
12 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Fish, eggs, dairy, lima beans, beef, soy, yeast, potatoes
Methionine
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
May prevent arterial fat build-up, promotes collagen synthesis, may act as
antioxidant
Deficiencies
Rare. Slowed growth, liver damage, weakness, edema, skin lesions
Toxicity
Unknown.
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
27 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
22 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
13 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Fish, eggs, dairy, beans, beef, garlic, onion, lentils, soybeans
Tryptophan
Type
Essential Amino Acid
Functions
Precursor for serotonin (which aids sleep and anxiety), niacin production
Deficiencies
Rare. Stunted growth.
Toxicity
Possible eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (potentially fatal)
Recommended Intakes (1985 Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Report)
Tryptophan supplementation has been determined unsafe and is illegal in the
United States
12.5 mg/kg/day - Preschool, 2-5 yrs
3.3 mg/kg/day - Schoolchildren, 10-12 yrs
3.5 mg/kg/day - Adults, 18yrs and older
Food Sources
Dairy, beef, poultry, barley, brown rice, fish, soybeans, peanuts