For most of us, life is a balancing act. In a perfect world, we’d all have time during our day to devote to our health. But in the real world, 24 hours a day doesn’t seem like nearly enough time to fit in work, school, family, and the plethora of responsibilities that life throws at us. Whether it’s working long hours, lack of sleep, eating the wrong foods, or staying out too late, the mixture of poor diet and lifestyle creates a perfect cocktail for low energy. And, despite our best efforts to exercise daily, eat right and sleep well, life in the 21st century is very demanding. This constant onslaught can deplete our bodies on a cellular level.
That said, amino acids play a critical role in overall health. And the category is booming! According to Grand View Research, the U.S. amino acids market size was estimated at $3.93 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2024 to 2030. This is attributable to increased consumer spending capacity and focus on wellness and a consumer shift to preventive care.
The body needs 20 different amino acids to maintain good health and normal functioning. Amino acids are grouped into three categories as follows:
Essential: The body cannot produce essential amino acids. These must be obtained by an external source, usually through food or supplementation. The essential amino acids are:
Nonessential: The body naturally produces these amino acids throughout the day. Nonessential amino acids include:
Conditional: These amino acids are produced only under specific circumstances, typically when the body is fighting off an illness or is stressed. The conditional amino acids are:
Amino acids are compounds that combine to make proteins. When a person eats a food that contains protein, their digestive system breaks the protein down into amino acids. The body then utilizes the amino acids in various ways to carry out bodily functions.
Amino acids build muscles, cause chemical reactions in the body, transport nutrients, prevent illness, and carry out other functions. Amino acid deficiency can result in decreased immunity, digestive problems, depression, fertility issues, lower mental alertness, slowed growth in children, as well as many other health issues.
A balanced diet and strategic supplementation will help to ensure that you get a healthy intake of essential and nonessential amino acids throughout the day. Without an adequate intake of amino acids, your body will not be able to produce proteins as effectively. In some cases, the proteins in muscle and tissues will start to weaken or degrade.
Amino acids play a critical role in almost every system in the body, including:
One critical consideration when choosing amino acid products is absorption. For example, while it may be true that tablets can pass through a person’s digestive system without breaking down, when this occurs, it almost always indicates a problem with something other than the tablet itself. People with poor digestive health often do not adequately absorb dietary supplements.
Dietary supplement skeptics claim that vitamins simply “make expensive urine.” Interestingly, multivitamins and B complexes contain vitamin B2. This B vitamin markedly changes the color of urine, normally making it much yellower. After an hour or so after taking the supplement, a visit to the bathroom usually reveals the change in urine color. One can understand why so many conclude that their vitamins have not been absorbed.
But this is not the case. Vitamins from supplements are absorbed the same way as vitamins from food. No vitamin, whether from food or supplements, can go directly from the stomach to the bladder. The only way vitamins can change the appearance of urine is if they have been filtered from the bloodstream by the kidneys. The only way this can occur is if the supplement has been absorbed through the digestive tract. And the only way this can happen is if the supplement breaks down easily or is otherwise manufactured to be bioavailable. So, contrary to the myth, when you see color changes in your urine associated with your supplement, it’s not evidence of it being wasted. It’s confirmation that it’s been broken down, absorbed and made available to body tissues.
One final point about absorption: faster isn’t necessarily better. Many people spend the extra money for liquid supplements based on a belief that they will absorb faster than capsules or tablets. They might, but the time difference between complete absorption of liquids versus tablets or capsules — 20-30 minutes — does not amount to a noticeable nutritional advantage. In fact, where higher potencies are concerned, slower absorption may be preferable to fast absorption. This is because there are limits to how fast and how much of a given nutrient the body can absorb over a certain period of time. When you overwhelm these absorption pathways, you waste nutrients. Slower is better when it comes to essential nutrients. Many amino acids are available in time-released tablets and capsules just for this reason.
That said, consumers continue to buy aminos in capsule and tablet forms. In fact, capsules are expected to experience significant growth in the coming years due to the rising demand for convenience in taking dietary supplements. Capsules are easy to carry and can be taken at a moment’s notice, making them a suitable option for people with busy lifestyles. Tablets are another very popular delivery system for aminos that is seeing profound growth. Tablets are typically smaller than capsules and can be easily swallowed.
If you maintain a healthy lifestyle but still feel like something is missing, amino acids will impact a wide range of body systems. Unlike some recommendations that provide a temporary solution, amino acids will set you up for long-term wellness. Additionally, they each offer unique benefits beyond your exercise regimen and energy levels. Moreover, there are a wide range of clinical trials indicating amino acids impact many areas of health. And, a whole host of clinically validated, amino acid tablet and capsule products can easily be purchased through a wide range of retail and online channels.
Ready to enhance your product line with the best in bulk amino acids? Contact our team today to discuss how Vivion’s amino acids can elevate your formulations. Reach out to us now—our experts are here to answer your questions and guide you through the ordering process.
Mark Becker is a Senior Account Executive for Vivion based in Gardena, CA. He has worked as a natural products sales and marketing executive for 30 years. Mark has written more than 300 articles and has hosted or been a guest on more than 500 radio shows. He obtained a bachelor’s in journalism from Long Beach State University and did his Master’s work in communications at Cal State Fullerton. For more than 40 years he has participated in numerous endurance events, including more than 150 triathlons of Olympic distance or longer, 103 marathons and numerous other events including ultramarathons and rough water swims from Alcatraz to the mainland. He has relied on a comprehensive dietary supplement regimen to support his athletic, professional and personal endeavors. For more information, access vivion.com or alliedbionutrition.com.
This article appeared in Tablets and Capsules Magazine: Vol. 22, No. 4 September/October 2024