👉 Essential amino acids – why they are so crucial in HPU, which symptoms indicate a deficiency, and how you can supplement them correctly.
What are amino acids needed for?
Amino acids are the building blocks of life – more precisely: the basic building blocks for proteins .
Your body needs them to build muscles, produce enzymes, generate messenger substances for your brain, and keep your immune system running.
People with the metabolic disorder HPU (hemopyrrollactamuria) often have difficulty absorbing amino acids from food. The human body obtains amino acids through the digestion of protein from food. And this is precisely where people with HPU frequently have problems due to a lack of stomach acid. This is because people with HPU often lack the bioactive vitamin B6 (you can read hier how to measure it correctly ), which is needed for the production of stomach acid.
Most people with HPU report that their fatigue decreases as soon as they increase their amino acid intake.
What are essential amino acids?
There are 20 protein-building amino acids – but eight of them are considered essential . This means
your body cannot produce them itself.
You must obtain them through food or supplements.
Here are a few examples of how essential they really are:
- Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin , the “happiness hormone” responsible for mood, sleep and relaxation – and is later even converted into melatonin , the sleep hormone.
- Tyrosine , which is formed from the essential amino acid phenylalanine , is important for dopamine , adrenaline and noradrenaline – messenger substances for focus, motivation and stress management.
- Methionine plays a central role in methyl metabolism , and is therefore important for detoxification, cell protection and even the regulation of DNA.
- You need lysine for collagen synthesis , which is essential for healthy skin, connective tissue and stable blood vessels – especially relevant in cases of HPU, where connective tissue is often affected.
- Leucine, isoleucine and valine – the so-called BCAAs – are essential for muscle building, regeneration and energy production , especially during periods of stress or exhaustion.
- Threonine is important for the formation of mucous membranes , i.e., for your intestines, but also for skin and the immune system.
And let’s not forget: Almost all enzymes and transport proteins in the body are made up of amino acids. If these building blocks are missing, your metabolism runs in emergency mode.
Especially in the case of HPU, where certain metabolic pathways are blocked or overloaded, the need for amino acids is often increased – and targeted supplementation can make the difference between “just getting through the day” and true vitality.
Foods that contain many amino acids
Foods particularly rich in the 8 essential amino acids include both animal and plant sources. Here are the most important examples:
Animal-based foods:
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Meat (beef, pork, chicken)
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Fish and seafood (salmon, tuna, cod – BUT not recommended due to the often high heavy metal contamination!)
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Eggs (especially the egg whites)
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Dairy products (preferably sheep and goat)
Plant-based foods:
- Soybeans and soy products (tofu, tempeh, edamame)
- Quinoa and Amaranth
- Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans)
- Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds)
Animal-based foods generally contain all essential amino acids in optimal proportions. Among plant-based foods, soybeans and quinoa stand out because they offer a complete amino acid profile.
What is the MAP formula?
The MAP formula (Master Amino Acid Pattern) contains these eight essential amino acids in a specially tailored ratio , from which the human body can efficiently build proteins:
- L-Isoleucine
- L-Leucine
- L-Lysine
- L-Methionine
- L-Phenylalanine
- L-Threonine
- L-tryptophan
- Valin
Histidine is also essential for infants.
The L before an amino acid stands for the so-called L-configuration (from Latin laevo = left) and describes the spatial arrangement. Only L-amino acids are used by the human body for building proteins – D-amino acids (with the amino group on the right) are practically non-existent in human metabolism.
Advantages of the MAP formula compared to other protein products
This MAP combination exactly meets human needs and has numerous advantages over other protein sources:
Maximum usability
- MAP offers almost complete utilization of amino acids : Over 99% are used directly for building the body’s own protein. Conventional protein sources such as meat, milk, or plant proteins do not achieve this efficiency.
Minimal calories and nitrogen waste
- MAP provides almost no calories (approx. 0.4 kcal per daily dose) and produces less than 1% nitrogenous waste . In comparison, other protein sources generate significantly more waste, which reduces the burden on the liver and kidneys.
Fast and complete recording
- The essential amino acids in MAP are present in free, crystalline form and can be absorbed directly without digestion . They are available to the body after approximately 23 minutes, whereas conventional proteins require hours for digestion.
Further advantages
- MAP is vegan, contains no additives, fats or allergens and is therefore also suitable for people with digestive problems or special dietary requirements.
Pay attention to good quality:
- Essential amino acids have a slightly bitter taste. Therefore, many manufacturers use sweeteners or artificial flavorings to mask the taste. If you find the powder too bitter, it’s better to use tablets .
- Make sure that the amino acids have been tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory .
How much protein should I consume per day?
Daily protein intake is a key component of a balanced diet and varies depending on age, sex, body weight, and physical activity . Health organizations such as the German Nutrition Society (DGE) and international professional societies provide clear recommendations for different population groups. For most adults, the recommended guideline is 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily , while athletes, older adults, and pregnant women have an increased need. Excessive protein intake above 2 g per kg of body weight can lead to long-term health risks.
These recommendations serve as a general guide:
- Average active adults (18–65 years): 0.8 g protein/kg body weight
- Older adults (66 years and over): 1.0–1.2 g protein/kg body weight
- Pregnant women from the 4th month onwards: 1.1 g protein/kg body weight
- Breastfeeding women: 1.3 g protein/kg body weight
- Athletes (more than 5 hours of exercise/week): 1.4–2.0 g protein/kg body weight
- Muscle building/strength training: 1.5–2.0 g protein/kg body weight
- Endurance training/regeneration/HPU: 1.2–1.6 g protein/kg body weight
- Vegan diet: 1.0–1.2 g protein/kg body weight (due to lower bioavailability)
There are now numerous free apps that allow you to track your protein intake. I personally like to use the Fddb app for this.
How much protein can I build from essential amino acids?
This question cannot be answered definitively, as many different factors are involved in the synthesis of protein from amino acids. Very roughly speaking, one can say that 1 gram of essential amino acids can be used to build 3 grams of protein .
Should I have my amino acid levels tested in my blood beforehand?
Determining amino acids in the blood is a rather unreliable procedure , which is why I don’t use it.
The analysis of amino acids in blood is prone to errors because many different factors can influence the measurement result. Even minor errors during blood collection, storage, or transport of the sample can lead to changes in the values. Some amino acids are very sensitive and degrade rapidly if the blood is not properly cooled or is analyzed too late.
Additionally, there are differences between measurement methods and laboratories, so the results are sometimes not directly comparable. Therefore, it is important that sample collection and handling are carried out very carefully and that the results are always interpreted in the context of the patient’s health status and other laboratory values.
Instead of individual amino acids, I prefer to use the blood parameter total protein as a measure of protein intake. In my opinion, a good protein intake starts at a value of 7.5 g/dl total protein .