Tag: Semi essential

L-arginine was first isolated from lupin seedlings in 1886 and is now known as a key amino acid with a unique classification. Unlike strictly essential or non-essential amino acids, L-arginine is classified as semi-essential or conditionally essential, a designation that depends on an individual's life stage and health status.

According to the National Institutes of Health, while adults can synthesize adequate amounts of histidine under normal conditions, certain physiological states like growth in children or trauma can make it a dietary necessity. This unique dependency is why histidine is called a semi-essential amino acid, placing it in a special category beyond the typical essential or non-essential labels.

An estimated 1 in 100,000 babies in the US is born with a urea cycle disorder, which can necessitate dietary supplementation of certain amino acids. Among the 20 standard amino acids, two are classified as semi-essential, or conditionally essential, because the body's ability to produce them can be limited by age, health status, or stress. This article will reveal which two amino acids are semi-essential and explore their importance.