title: Amino acids: chemistry and metabolism in normal and hypercatabolic states.
abstract: Amino acids are the "alphabet" of protein structure, determining many of the properties of proteins. Amino acids are rapidly absorbed and readily available in the blood. In the cell, amino acids maintain protein stores and counteract hormone-mediated catabolic stimuli. Thus, amino acid supplementation may be effective in counteracting the metabolic and morphologic consequences of the hypercatabolic state of chronic diseases such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, or liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Service of Metabolic and Nutritional Pathophysiology, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Medical Center of Montescano, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Evasio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aquilani
authors.forename: Francesco S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Dioguardi
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins