Multiple Choice
Why can't essential amino acids be synthesized by the human body?
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24. Metabolism and Nutrition
Essential Amino Acids
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How many nonessential amino acids are produced in the human body?
A
8
B
20
C
11
D
9
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the difference between essential and nonessential amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet, while nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the body.
Recall that there are 20 standard amino acids that are used to build proteins in the human body.
Identify the number of essential amino acids, which is 9. These are the amino acids that must be obtained through dietary sources.
Subtract the number of essential amino acids from the total number of standard amino acids to find the number of nonessential amino acids: 20 - 9.
Conclude that the human body produces 11 nonessential amino acids, which are synthesized internally and do not need to be obtained from the diet.
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