Asparagine: The amino acid that is needed to maintain balance in the central nervous system; it prevents you from being either overly nervous or overly calm.

Asparagine is a non-essential amino acid that the body can manufacture in the liver. Only the L form of amino acids are constituents of protein.  Asparagine is first isolated in 1932 from asparagus and is also widely available in plant protein, but a great volume of information is not available.

Asparagine, created from another amino acid, aspartic acid, is needed to maintain balance in the central nervous system; it prevents you from being either overly nervous or overly calm. As it is converted back into aspartic acid, asparagine releases energy that brain and nervous system rells use for metabolism. It promotes the process by which one amino acid is transformed into another in the liver.

Function and Benefits of Asparagine

• Our central nervous system also requires this amino acid where it helps in maintenance of balance or equilibrium. It is also essential for the proper functioning and health of our nerves and other cells of the body. It controls their metabolism in the brain.
• Asparagine gives rise to aspartic acid by the reversal reaction and also gives rise to ammonia. This reaction is catalyzed by asparaginease. Aspartic acid can then be converted into oxaloacetic acid which enters the citric acid cycle then. Ammonia formed then gives rise to urea.
• Asparagine is a non-essential amino acid that the body can manufacture in the liver. Only the L form of amino acids are constituents of protein.
• Asparagine, the beta-amido derivative of aspartic acid, is considered a non-essential amino acid. This amino acid plays an important role in the biosynthesis of glycoproteins and is also essential to the synthesis of a large number of other proteins. On a per-mole basis, asparagine is incorporated into proteins and enzymes at a rate of 4.4 percent with respect to the other amino acids.

Deficiency Symptoms of Asparagine

Deficiency symptoms of asparagine can lead to confusion, headaches, depression, irritability, or, in extreme cases, psychosis.

Rich Food Sources of Asparagine

Although being not essential still asparagine is found in many different foods. It sources are as follow

• Asparagine is present in plants proteins in large amount.
• Animal sources: dairy, whey, beef, poultry, eggs, fish, lactalbumin, seafood.
• Plant sources: asparagus, potatoes, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy, whole grains. Asparagine  is found  in potatoes so eating French fries will give you asparagine along with starch. It is also found on roasted coffee.

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