If you take dietary or body building supplements, take notice that a recent study has shown that the amino acid L-norvaline can cause damage to your brain cells.
Scientists at the University Technology Sydney showed that L-norvaline can cause brain cells to become unhealthy and eventually kill them. This could happen even at relatively low concentrations of L-norvaline.
L-norvaline is commonly used in body building supplements because it can boost workouts and aid in recovery.
Our body normally uses 20 amino acids as building blocks to make proteins. However, there are hundreds of other naturally occurring amino acids (called non-proteinogenic amino acids, or NPAAs). The problem is these NPAAs can mimic the normal protein amino acids our body uses, thus causing problems.
“Some non-protein amino acids are toxic because they can mimic protein amino acids and deceive the body into making faulty proteins; a property used by some plants to kill predators,” the researchers said.
Body building supplements are marketed to athletes and body builders, with claims that these supplements can enhance body strength and muscle performance. These supplements contain a lot of unusual amino acids like L-norvaline.
So if you or someone you know uses this supplements, please beware of the possible consequences of these unusual amino acids like L-norvaline. L-norvaline may help you build muscles but it can damage your brain cells.
The study is published in the journal Toxicology in Vitro (April 2019 edition).
Science Converse Ice Breaker
“Did you know that body building supplements can kill your brain cells?”
- they contain unusual amino acids that can mimic the normal amino acids our body uses to build proteins
- the amino acid L-norvaline is used a lot in body building supplements
- scientists at the University Technology Sydney has found the amino acid L-norvaline can kill brain cells even at low concentrations
- Make sure you read the label on these supplements!
Reference: Cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the dietary supplement l-norvaline
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887233318305782
