Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Essential Amino Acids

Essential amino acids are the amino acids that the human body cannot synthesise in adequate amounts and must therefore obtain from the diet. In humans these are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. As the building blocks of proteins, they are required …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 365× across the literature 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Essential amino acids are the amino acids that the human body cannot synthesise in adequate amounts and must therefore obtain from the diet. In humans these are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. As the building blocks of proteins, they are required for protein synthesis and tissue repair, and they serve as precursors for enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other nitrogen-containing molecules essential to metabolism and growth. Because the body has no significant store for them, a continuous dietary supply from sources such as meat, eggs, dairy, legumes, and certain plant combinations is needed to maintain nitrogen balance; deficiency can impair growth, immune function, and recovery from illness. The concept of essential amino acids is central to nutrition science, food formulation, and the assessment of protein quality. Within the broad scope of the International Journal of Amino Acids, which covers the chemistry, biochemistry, and physiological roles of amino acids and their derivatives, this topic connects to studies of amino acid metabolism in health and disease, including their involvement in liver function and metabolic regulation. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to amino acids and their role in human nutrition and biochemistry.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 365 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Essential Amino Acids, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Amino Acids.

Journal editorial board
Nicolas Inguimbert · France

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.