What Are the 21 Amino Acids? 9 Essential Amino Acids

Out of the 21 amino acids, only 9 are categorized as essential

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins, the compounds that synthesize hormones and neurotransmitters in our bodies. Amino acids help our bodies to grow, repair body tissue, maintain immunity and produce hormones that maintain body functions.

The 21 amino acids different amino acids our bodies need are:

1. Alanine
2. Arginine
3. Asparagine
4. Aspartic acid
5. Cysteine
6. Glutamic acid
7. Glutamine
8. Glycine
9. Histidine
10. Isoleucine
11. Leucine
12. Lysine
13. Methionine
14. Phenylalanine
15. Proline
16. Serine
17. Threonine
18. Tryptophan
19. Tyrosine
20. Valine
21. Selenocysteine

What are the 9 essential amino acids?

Although all of the amino acids are important for our bodies to function properly, only nine of them are classified as essential: 

1. Phenylalanine
2. Valine
3. Tryptophan
4. Threonine
5. Isoleucine
6. Methionine
7. Histidine
8. Leucine
9. Lysine

What are the functions of the 9 essential amino acids?

The 9 essential amino acids play important roles in the body:

• Phenylalanine:
  • Produces various chemical messengers (neurotransmitters), such as tyrosine, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine
  • Also plays a vital role in the structure and function of proteins and enzymes
• Valine:
  • Promotes muscle growth and regeneration
  • Also involved in energy production
• Threonine:
  • Mostly found in collagen and elastin and a vital component of the skin and connective tissue and helps to:
    • Break down fats
    • Boost the immune system
• Tryptophan:
  • Maintains proper nitrogen balance in the body needed for tissue synthesis
  • Produces neurotransmitter serotonin that regulates sleep, appetite and mood
• Methionine:
  • Promotes tissue growth
  • Promotes the absorption of zinc, selenium and other minerals essential for the body
• Leucine:
  • Promotes muscle repair
  • Regulate blood sugar levels
  • Stimulates wound healing
  • Produces growth hormones
• Isoleucine:
  • Breakdowns muscles
  • Produces hemoglobin
  • Regulates energy
• Lysine:
  • Produces hormones and enzymes
  • Helps the body absorb calcium
  • Produces energy
  • Produces collagen and elastin
  • Promotes immune function
• Histidine:
  • Used to produce neurotransmitter histamine, which controls:
    • Immune response
    • Digestion
    • Sexual function
    • Sleep-wake cycles

According to the USDA, there is no difference between a “portion” and a “serving.”
See Answer

How are amino acids classified?

Amino acids are classified as essential, nonessential and conditionally essential:

• Essential amino acids: Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body; they must be obtained from the diet.
• Nonessential amino acids: Nonessential amino acids are produced by the body naturally, although they can also be additionally obtained from food. Nonessential amino acids include:
  • Alanine
  • Arginine
  • Asparagine
  • Aspartic acid
  • Cysteine
  • Glutamic acid
  • Glutamine
  • Glycine
  • Proline
  • Serine
  • Tyrosine
• Conditionally essential amino acids: Conditionally essential amino acids are ones that your body can’t produce under specific circumstances such as stress or illness. Conditional amino acids include:
  • Arginine
  • Cysteine
  • Glutamine
  • Tyrosine
  • Glycine
  • Ornithine
  • Proline
  • Serine