Serine
Updated Oct. 13th, 2017
Some amino acids can be manufactured in the body from other amino acids and are thus called non-essential. Serine is one of these amino acids because it can be formed from glycine. Serine has several roles in the body. Serine is a part of creatine, which transforms adenosine diphosphate, ADP, into adenosine triphosphate, ATP.
When ATP is broken down energy is released and this powers all of our body processes including muscle contraction. creatine also helps to construct our genetic material, DNA and RNA. Serine is used to synthesize bile acids (for fat digestion) and connective tissue (for healing the skin). In the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) serine protects the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. If this protective sheath degenerates a "shorting out" of the message occurs and the signal never gets to the appropriate part of the body. This is what happens in the disease multiple sclerosis.
Serine is a part of immune proteins, called immunoglobulins and antibodies. Several types of these molecules are released by white blood cells to flag cells and tissue so that the appropriate immune response can occur. For example, the destruction of a cell infected with a virus or a cell growing uncontrollably (cancer). Serine can be supplemented to help with the following health concerns: low immune function, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, convalescence, muscle weakness and skin damage.
Serine is usually supplemented as L-serine. L-serine is found in capsules or cream. It is best absorbed when it is taken between meals. If you take an individual amino acid supplement for longer than one month, add an amino acid complex to the protocol to prevent the deficiency of other amino acids. Serine is found in many commercial cosmetics and skin care products.
High serine intake can cause depression of the immune system or neurological complications.
