Valine: A Safe Performance Enhancer
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you know that we offer a wide range of vitamin and supplemental injections. This is an important treatment that benefits people of all kinds of backgrounds and conditions. Some of our patients are in the course of normal aging, or have suffered an injury or have a congenital issue. But it also benefits people who are perfectly healthy, but just need something extra to reach a higher performance level and stay in the safe range of healthy activity.
What Valine does
One of the supplements in our repertoire is Valine. As an amino acid it plays an important part in the energy chain because it gives a critical boost of glucose when a person is pushing their body past its normal limits. It also protects the muscles that are working so hard, as well as other parts of the body like the liver and gallbladder. It may even mitigate some of the consequences of alcohol use.
However, Valine is a special kind of amino acid called an “essential” amino acid. That means our bodies don’t produce it on their own. It has to come from our diet. There are many protein-based foods that do provide Valine, like meat, dairy and soy.
Valine Deficiency
Valine deficiency is often found in people who exercise a lot but don’t eat a diet that supports their high level of activity. If you were a teenager who was very active you may remember experiencing at least one symptom of potential Valine deficiency — urine that smells like maple syrup. Its clinical name is literally “Maple Syrup Urine Disease”. This also occurs in people who are building muscle mass or simply maintaining a low protein diet.
Remember, we don’t just treat people who are experiencing poor health. We also help people unlock the next level of active, healthy living. The right supplement can be an important part of that equation. If you would like to learn more about what supplements may align with your health goals, call Dr. Ashley Hoyt at the Key West Wellness Center at 305-296-5358.
