What are the benefits of amino acid therapy?

Amino acids have been used in clinical tests to treat a variety of serious illnesses and conditions including: phenylketonuria (PKU, a disorder of the metabolism), epilepsy, congenital microcephaly (birth defect), hepatitis complications, spinocerebellar degeneration, cerebral palsy, hemodialysis, lateral sclerosis, peritoneal dialysis, chronic pain, parenteral nutrition, liver cancer, muscular dystrophy and hypertrophy of the prostate. The scientific community has also published articles advocating the use of amino acid therapy to treat serious psychological disorders, such as drug dependency, depression and anxiety. The incorporation of amino acid therapy into conventional Western medicine is a topic of vigorous debate in the scientific community.

According to the A.P. John Institute for Cancer Research, controlled amino acid therapy combined with chemotherapy, or used alone, has reduced the burden of tumors in certain types of cancers and has improved patients' quality of life. However, effective treatment must be customized to each individual for optimal benefit.

Acording to a new research study, branched chain amino acid therapy (BCAA) may be an effective treatment for spinocerebellar degeneration patients. Researchers found that BCAA improved the condition of patients with ataxia, a symptom of spinocerebellar degeneration. Patients who suffer from ataxia are unable to coordinate muscle movement. After four weeks of BCAA treatment, patients had improved kinetic function

Neutral amino acid therapy may also improve the overall well-being of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients. PKU is a metabolic disorder that causes severe neurological impairment. Researchers treated six PKU patients with large neutral amino acid supplements (PreKUnil, Nilab, Dk). At the beginning of the study, two subjects were diagnosed with clinical depression. At the end of the study, all patients reported increased energy and a general improvement in well-being.