Amino Acids Assist Arterial Health

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins – key components of muscle and tissue throughout the body.  Amy Jennings, from the University of East Anglia (United Kingdom), and colleagues studied 1898 female twins, ages 18 to 75 years, surveying eight subjects for their intake of seven amino acids associated with cardioprotective activity. The team conducted diagnostics to assess arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis.  The analysis revealed that higher intakes of  arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histdine, leucine and tyrosine associated with decreases in central systolic blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, and mean arterial pressure – key markers of arterial health.  The study authors write that: "These data provide evidence to suggest that intake of several [amino acids] is associated with cardiovascular benefits beyond blood pressure reduction in healthy women.”