Functional amino acids (FAAs) are known as those amino acids that are not only used to build proteins but participate in regulating essential metabolic pathways to improve health, survival, growth, and development. Research has revealed that FAAs are essential for the growth, development, and repair of muscles, help produce collagen and elasticity, assist with protein synthesis, help generate energy from carbohydrates, and contribute to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by helping to regulate insulin secretion. Also, FAAs have been identified as vital to immune function as they help create antibodies and are necessary for normal brain function. The deficiency in any FAAs impairs protein synthesis and whole-body homeostasis, leading to serious health problems, including muscle wasting, stunted growth, compromised immune function, skin diseases, and metabolic and neurological disorders. Meanwhile, the metabolites of FAAs have also received attention for their similar biological function to FAAs.
Studies concentrating on the intervention of FAAs and their metabolites in human nutrition and disease have intrigued the interests of researchers, while the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are still disputed and inconclusive. It remains a subject for discussion of the nutritional requirements and action mechanisms of FAAs. In addition, since humans eat daily food but not formulated diets, it is also crucial to seek the appropriate ratio and means of additional supplementation of FAAs. It should also be clarified whether FAAs and their metabolites can reverse the health issues caused by an unbalanced amino acid diet and how they work. Due to the complicated molecular dynamics, more research is needed to fill the gap in the above fields.
This research topic aims to provide a platform to strengthen new insights into the action mechanisms of FAAs in modulating health and disease. Innovative studies focusing on human nutrition (including human nutrition studies based on animal and cell models and clinical trials) within the scope are particularly welcome. Here, authors are encouraged to submit original research, review, and perspective articles to address the roles of FAAs and their metabolites in, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Skeletal muscle function and sports performance;
• Disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism and diseases;
• Gut microbiome and immune function;
• The pathophysiological effect of phospholipid in FAAs-related metabolic and endocrine disorders;
• The combined health-promoting effect of natural bioactive substances and FAAs.
Functional amino acids (FAAs) are known as those amino acids that are not only used to build proteins but participate in regulating essential metabolic pathways to improve health, survival, growth, and development. Research has revealed that FAAs are essential for the growth, development, and repair of muscles, help produce collagen and elasticity, assist with protein synthesis, help generate energy from carbohydrates, and contribute to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by helping to regulate insulin secretion. Also, FAAs have been identified as vital to immune function as they help create antibodies and are necessary for normal brain function. The deficiency in any FAAs impairs protein synthesis and whole-body homeostasis, leading to serious health problems, including muscle wasting, stunted growth, compromised immune function, skin diseases, and metabolic and neurological disorders. Meanwhile, the metabolites of FAAs have also received attention for their similar biological function to FAAs.
Studies concentrating on the intervention of FAAs and their metabolites in human nutrition and disease have intrigued the interests of researchers, while the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved are still disputed and inconclusive. It remains a subject for discussion of the nutritional requirements and action mechanisms of FAAs. In addition, since humans eat daily food but not formulated diets, it is also crucial to seek the appropriate ratio and means of additional supplementation of FAAs. It should also be clarified whether FAAs and their metabolites can reverse the health issues caused by an unbalanced amino acid diet and how they work. Due to the complicated molecular dynamics, more research is needed to fill the gap in the above fields.
This research topic aims to provide a platform to strengthen new insights into the action mechanisms of FAAs in modulating health and disease. Innovative studies focusing on human nutrition (including human nutrition studies based on animal and cell models and clinical trials) within the scope are particularly welcome. Here, authors are encouraged to submit original research, review, and perspective articles to address the roles of FAAs and their metabolites in, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Skeletal muscle function and sports performance;
• Disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism and diseases;
• Gut microbiome and immune function;
• The pathophysiological effect of phospholipid in FAAs-related metabolic and endocrine disorders;
• The combined health-promoting effect of natural bioactive substances and FAAs.