Threonine
THREONINE is an essential amino acid, serving as a carrier for phosphate in phosphoproteins. Threonine is present in the heart, central nervous system, and skeletal muscle. It assists in maintaining protein balance in the body and is important in the formation of collagen and elastin. When combined with aspartic acid, methionine aids liver and lipotropic function.
An enzyme called serin, or threonine dehydratas, necessary for the catabolism of threonine, diminishes with age, causing clinical symptoms in the elderly. Most noted are those of depression and immunosuppression. A threonine deficiency can also result in extreme irritability -- seen in all age groups.
Threonine, as well as lysine, is deficient in most grains and requires legumes to obtain a complete protein meal. Threonine is used to treat indigestion and intestinal malfunctions, as well as in preventing excessive liver fat. Nutrients are more readily absorbed when threonine is present.
Other names for threonine include: THR, amino acid T, and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-butanoic acid.
Deficiency symptoms include: emotional agitation, mental health deterioration, decreased digestion, intestinal malfunctions, increased liver fat, deterioration of nutrient absorption, and decreased protein uptake.
