Are amino acid pills just the same amino acids that are in food?

Answer 1

Yes...and no. The amino acids found in foods are parts of the enzymes and proteins found in the food. As such, they are bound to each other by peptide bonds (where the carboxyl portion of one amino acid is bonded to the amino group of the next amino acid). During the digestion process, these bonds are broken by the addition of a water molecule. The amino acids are then transported throughout the body for use in making new enzymes, proteins, or for use as energy sources.

The amino acids found found in pills are usually either the pure amino acids, or a soluble salt (mono sodium glutamate, used as a flavor enhancer in Chinese cooking, is an example). As single amino acids, they do not provide the range of other amino acids, but they can be used to supplement the lack of certain essential amino acids due to certain diets.

Answer 2

Generally, yes. However, in foods, amino acids are found linked up in long chains to form proteins that must be broken down by enzymes in the body, and in pills they are often in shorter, branched chains that are intended/claimed to be more easily accessible. Also, supplements that are branded as BCAAs often only include 3 of the 20 common amino acids and thus are not a suitable replacement for protein intake.

Answer 3

That depends on which amino acids they put in the pills. Not all amino acids are present naturally in foods.