Love hitting the gym and taking protein supplements to enhance strength and build your body? Think again before taking those supplements. A recent study says that the protein supplement L-norvaline is potentially harmful for your body as it makes cells unhealthy and eventually kills them.
The amino acid L-norvaline is used in bodybuilding supplements and is promoted as a compound that can boost workouts and aid recovery.
Proteins in our diet contain amino acids that are released in our gut and then used by our bodies to build new proteins. L-norvaline is one of the hundreds of amino acids that are not normally used to make proteins in humans.
The study published in the Journal of Toxicology in Vitro.
The rising popularity of taking protein supplements has led to unusual amino acids being used to make these dietary supplements.
Research also says that some non-protein amino acids are toxic because they can mimic protein amino acids and deceive the body into making faulty proteins.
According to the lead author of the study Ken Rodgers, the study revealed that L-norvaline while, it might initially allow cells to produce more energy, after a while the machinery of the cell that generates the energy is damaged. People are taking supplements such as this without really knowing much about what the long-term consequences might be.
(With inputs from agencies)