nonessential amino acid

any amino acid that can be synthesized in the body in an amount corresponding to need, and hence for which there is not an absolute dietary requirement. The extent to which a particular amino acid is non-essential in any one species depends on the stage of development and physiological state of the subject. The following l-amino acids are non-essential for the maintenance of nitrogen equilibrium in an adult human: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, hydroxyproline, proline, serine, and tyrosine. Arginine and histidine are, however, essential in growing children.

Previous:	nonelectrolyte, nondissymmetric, nondisjunction
Next:	nonesterified fatty acid, nonheme iron, nonhistone protein