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Description
Histidine is a nonessential amino acid in adults, which
means that it is manufactured from other amino acids in their livers; it does
not have to be obtained directly through the diet.
Histidine is essential in the infant for proper growth
and development. Metabolism of histidine in the body produces histamine, which
is involved in the inflammatory response and the production of hydrochloric
acid by the stomach.
In infants less than three months old, histidine
deprivation results in eczema as a form of dermatitis. This is relieved when
histidine is supplemented in their existing diet. A genetic metabolism disorder
seen in a few people prevents them from properly metabolizing histidine and
results in the buildup of histidine in the blood. This is infrequently seen in
infants and produces speech defects and mental retardation in these susceptible
individuals. This is not found to be a problem in adults.
Therapeutic doses of histidine range between 0.5 and 20
grams per day. Supplementation of adults with histidine up to 30 grams per day
for short periods of time were found to result in no ill effects.
Histidine is a nonessential amino acid in adults, which
means that it is manufactured from other amino acids in their livers; it does
not have to be obtained directly through the diet. |
