I have been seeing more and more about amino acids and the possible benefits for those with hypothyroidism. Their importance for conversion, also their benefits regarding liver health. I'm also type2 diabetic, it seems there may be benefits there too. Have any of you looked into this? If so are there any recommended capsules or powder?
Thanks for any help.
I've been taking these for the last year or more as I often struggle to get enough protein into my diet due to intolerances and preferred the full spectrum rather than the often promoted EAA (essential amino acids)
My albumin levels have increased from low to mid range since this addition
If you are able to tolerate beans this is a really useful find from helvella ... vegfaqs.com/essential-amino...
Thank you. That was one of the products I'd been looking at. My main interest is in the possible role of amino acids in conversion of T4 to T3 and protecting the liver from non alcoholic fatty liver disease, not uncommon in people with hypothyroidism. I was wary of the sources I was reading, and if this was something that had been talked about before, I know there is a wealth of knowledge here, is it just people trying to sell stuff or is there some evidence to support those statements, any idea?
Not sure about improving conversion as I take T3 & 4, I still had raised ALP and ALT whilst taking these and found that I needed to raise my Glutathione and also added TUDCA to aid bile production and help the liver which has worked a treat
Before I forget, are you also using broad spectrum digestive enzymes?
No, some cider vinegar in the morning if I remember
No. I supplement vitamins, take magnesium.
Note that the product does not contain Asparagine (a non-essential amino acid), but does contain L-Taurine (which is not strictly an amino acid).
Whether that matters - or not - is another matter. But the description being inaccurate does not inspire me.
I did go back and re-check, the labelling of what is or isn't an amino acid seems a bit woolly... neither are a bad thing to have a little extra of... weirdly L-Taurine is an ingredient of Red Bull 🤢 healthline.com/nutrition/wh...
Asparagine - Functions of L-Asparagine in the body
Asparagine is known for its key role in the biosynthesis of glycoproteins. In addition, it is also essential for the synthesis of many other proteins. Human nervous system also needs this amino acid to be able to maintain an equilibrium. Asparagine increases the resistance to fatigue and improves the smooth functioning of the liver. So, Asparagine benefits work best in the field of nervine health and liver protection.
Is it just that they are referring to it as L-Aspartic which seems to be another name for it?
thanks 🍄
‘L’ means free form, the amino acid is not attached to other amino acids with peptide bonds = protein.
L means laevo/levo - left handed chiral form!
(As opposed to D - dextro - right-handed chiral form.)
As in L-thyroxine! 
(There is D-thyroxine but it isn't the form we make or take.)
Wiki article on handedness/chirality:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chira...
helvella,
Yes, I know it’s related to shape and a mirror image or something 🤷♀️ but does it detach or have I been telling TiggerMe lies ? 😁 🤦♀️
I can't make "detach" fit with L- at all!
More important is likely the other end of the word! Not the prefix, but the suffix.
Aspartate vs aspartic acid!
The acid has -COOH and the aspartate ion has -COO- (that is, it has lost an H and is therefore is negatively charged) and that can attach to many other things. Like to magnesium to form Magnesium aspartate, or to phenylalanine to form Aspartame, the artificial sweetener.
It's sailing right over my head 🙃
I don't even want to ask why some things are left handed and some right 🤫
Take a piece of string (or cable or wool or cotton thread, or almost anything else like that - even cooked spaghetti). And a pencil, or a pen, or almost anything else like that!
Make the simplest possible knot round the pencil.
Then do the same but tie it the opposite way - over then under vs under then over.
You end up with two versions of the knot. A left-handed one and a right-handed one. But exactly the same cable and pen!
Lots of reasons the knot could go one way rather than the other. The person tying it might be right-handed. The cable could already have a bit of a kink in it that makes it seem to "want" to go one way. The person tying it might decide positively they want it to go the other way. Sheer chance. Those or many other possibilities.
We end up in the real world as having (and this is very much an approximation) the following example:
One example of a chiral substance is menthol - as in extract of mint.
It comes in L- and D- forms. And they are similar but the D- version has less of the cooling effect. And manufactured menthol is often DL- which means a 50:50 mixture of D- and L- forms. (This is sometimes called a racemic mixture.)
If you want a minty flavour but not the cooling effect DL- is good. But for the cooling effect you need pure L-.
No. 
Asparagine and Aspartate are similar but Asparagine has an extra -NH2 where Aspartate has an -OH.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino...
Ah... but it can be synthesized from Aspartic
britannica.com/science/aspa...
I am more than happy to accept that - and there are several amino acids that can be, and are, effectively converted within our bodies. Hence (to some extent) the distinction between essential and "others"!
But the advertising CLAIM is:
Full Spectrum Amino Acids - providing all 20 amino acids at an ideal ratio for the body. Includes complete BCAA.
And, though close, it ain't true!
3w ago when I had a blood test one of the tests reported albumin at 22 (30-40). I know malabsorcan be caused by hypothyroidism but I also Hv malabsorption due to previous stomach surgery. How low did your albumin get and where can I purchase these amino acids? Do you mind telling me what brand you use? I consume a high protein diet but that is not reflected in my results! Low albumin mimics symptoms of hypothyroidism!!
Have you shown these results to your GP? I'd be interested to hear what they say about it
It was down to 36 (35-50) for 4-5 years before I became aware and tackled the issue, now at 42 with these amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GV3XMWT and also upped my egg intake as they are a good source that I can tolerate
I doubt there will be any evidence to support the conversion theory. Like much of thyroid, most is anecdotal, and yes, there is also some profit making activities around self management of thyroid disease. I’m afraid many diseases carry that risk. More bin diseases such as IBS.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
HealthStarDust
I think you under estimate the essential need of protein to make the proteins that enable good thyroid hormone synthesis and other hormones (except sex hormones and steroid).
For example protein thyroglobulin is involved in thyroid hormone formation. Thyroid hormone is transported by principle binding protein TBG (and others), and selenium as a selenoprotein helps to convert the thyroid hormone from T4 to T3.
Your body needs a constant source of protein to maintain itself as all proteins are in a continuous state of turn over. If you don’t get enough protein the body will allow breakdown of muscle in order to prioritise vital structures (bones, etc) with recycled amino acids.
We also need to adjust protein intake to balance T3 levels that helps regulate protein turnover. Increase T3 and the demand for extra protein increases or risks burning muscle.
Great explanation on protein given by Blissful 👍
This is from Dr Mercola: (apparently direct links are not allowed on here)
What Are Proteins?
Proteins are essential for building and repairing tissues, including muscles and organs.
They also play crucial roles in the functioning of enzymes, hormones and immune system components. Proteins are made up of amino acids, some of which are essential because your body cannot produce them and must obtain them from food. Sources of protein include meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds. As explained in the Osmosis video above:
“Protein is an essential part of the human diet … Regardless of the source, the protein that we eat gets broken down and reformed into new proteins in our bodies. These proteins do everything from fighting infections to helping cells divide. You name it, they're doing it. At its simplest, a protein is a chain of amino acids bound to one another by peptide bonds like a string of beads.
These strings get twisted and folded into a final protein shape. When we eat protein, it gets broken down into its individual amino acids. Most amino acids have a central carbon atom bonded to one amino or nitrogen-containing group and one carboxylic acid group.
That's why it's called an amino acid. The carbon also has one hydrogen atom and a side chain, which is unique to each amino acid. The exception to this is prolene, which is a tiny little ring structure instead. Although there are hundreds of amino acids in nature, humans only use about 20 of them to make basically every type of protein.”
Those 20 proteins include:
Alanine Arginine Asparagine Aspartic acid
Cysteine Glutamic acid Glutamine Glycine
Histidine Isoleucine Leucine Lysine
Methionine Phenylalanine Prolene Serine
Threonine Tryptophan Tyrosine Valine
Five of these — alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and serine — are considered non-essential amino acids because your body can make them, although you can also get them from foods. Another six of these proteins — arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, proline and tyrosine — are described as conditionally essential.
This is because, while your body can make them if you’re healthy, during times of illness, stress or intense physical activity, your body's ability to produce these amino acids may not be sufficient to meet your needs, making it necessary to consume them through the diet.
There are also nine essential amino acids, which are those that we can only get from food. These include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine
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