Essential and indispensable amino acids

Overview of basic amino acid structures

Amino acids that our body can synthesize itself are called non-essential, dispensable.

Amino acids, which we must take in food, are essential, indispensable.

Essential amino acids

• branched: Val, Leu, Ile;
• aromatic: Phe, Trp;
• basic: Lys;
• containing sulphur: Met;
• with a hydroxyl group: Thr.

Conditionally essential amino acids

• Arg, His.

Non-essential amino acids

• Gly, Ala, Ser, Pro, Cys, Tyr, Asn, Gln, Asp, Glu.