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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Macronutrients and Water

Essential amino acid

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

nounCommon term

In nutrition & dietetics, essential amino acid means: One of the nine amino acids that the human body cannot make, or cannot make in sufficient amounts, so they must come from protein in food.

In Turkish: esansiyel amino asit, elzem amino asit

How it is used

Used in protein quality, vegetarian nutrition and sports science. Foods that contain all nine in good amounts are called 'complete proteins'. Plant foods may be low in one, the 'limiting amino acid', so combining sources such as grains and legumes is often discussed.

Example sentences

  1. Leucine is an essential amino acid that plays a key role in muscle protein synthesis.

  2. Lysine is often the limiting essential amino acid in cereals.

Common collocations

  • essential amino acids
  • complete protein
  • limiting amino acid
  • amino acid profile
  • proteinA macronutrient made of amino acids that the body uses to build and repair muscles, organs, skin, enzymes and hormones. It provides about 4 kcal per gram.
  • vegetarianDescribing a diet, meal or person that excludes meat, poultry and fish. Many vegetarians still eat eggs and dairy; as a noun, a vegetarian is a person who eats this way.
  • plant-basedDescribing a diet or food that comes mainly or entirely from plants, such as vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. It may or may not include small amounts of animal foods.
  • macronutrientA nutrient that the body needs in large amounts, measured in grams: carbohydrate, protein and fat. Water is sometimes included in this group too.

More terms: Macronutrients and Water

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.