Alanine facts

• Alanine is a non-essential amino acid
• Alanine is found in prostate fluid
• Alanine functions as a building block of protein in the body

Alanine is a non-essential amino acid, which means the body can metabolise (or make) it from the essential amino acids. This means that it is not necessarily required in high levels in the diet.

Alanine has been found in prostate fluid and researchers think that it could play a role in the health of the prostate, by playing an important part in normal prostaglandin synthesis. Studies have shown that men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (benign prostate enlargement) found relief from their symptoms when they were supplemented with alanine (together with glycine and glutamic acid).

Alanine, just like all the other amino acids, is one of the building blocks of all proteins in the body, which not only include muscles, but also all the other proteins required for normal function of the body.