Aspartic acid - a non essential amino acid - Electrically Charged Amino Acids (negative and hydrophilic)

Aspartic acid is one of two acidic amino acids. Aspartic acid combines with other amino acids to form compounds that absorb and remove toxins from the bloodstream. As a neurotransmitter, aspartic acid may provide resistance to fatigue and thus lead to endurance, although the evidence to support this idea is not strong.

Aspartic acid Benefits and Uses

• Aids in the expulsion of harmful ammonia from the body. When ammonia enters the circulatory system it acts as a highly toxic substance which can be harmful to the central nervous system.
• Aspartic Acid may increase resistance to fatigue and increase endurance.

Aspartic acid Food Sources

It is found in plants, especially in sprouting seeds. In protein it exists mainly as asparagine.

Structure of Aspartic acid Amino Acid

As its name indicates, aspartic acid is the carboxylic acid analog of asparagine. It is non-essential in mammals, and might serve as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Note that aspartic acid has an a-keto homolog, oxaloacetate, just as pyruvate is the a-keto homolog of alanine.