Amino Acid Modulation of Intestinal Health

Amino acids serve not only as the fundamental building blocks of proteins but also as dynamic regulators of gut physiology. Specific amino acids influence intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, tight junction integrity and mucosal immunity. Beyond direct cellular effects, they act as signalling molecules, modulating pathways such as mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and nuclear factor-κB, and shaping the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Through antioxidant properties and epigenetic co-factors, metabolites such as α-ketoglutarate and glutamine preserve barrier function during stress and inflammation. Essential amino acids like tryptophan interact with host receptors and microbial metabolites to regulate barrier repair and cytokine balance. Functional supplementation strategies have demonstrated benefits in models of diarrhoeal disease, inflammatory bowel disorders and toxin-induced epithelial injury. Collectively, this field reveals a network in which dietary and endogenous amino acids integrate nutritional, immune and microbial signals to maintain intestinal homeostasis, offering translational insights for human health, animal husbandry and therapeutic design.

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Amino Acid Modulation of Intestinal Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in amino acid modulation of intestinal health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Enterocyte: A differentiated intestinal epithelial cell responsible for nutrient absorption and barrier function.

Tight junction: A complex of proteins at the apical region of epithelial cells that controls paracellular permeability.

mTOR pathway: A central signalling cascade that integrates nutrient availability with cell growth, proliferation and immune responses.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that, in excess, can damage cellular structures and trigger inflammation.

Gut microbiota: The complex community of microorganisms inhabiting the intestinal tract, which interacts bidirectionally with the host to influence health and disease.

References

1. α-Ketoglutarate for Preventing and Managing Intestinal Epithelial Dysfunction. Advances in Nutrition (2024).
2. ACE2 mediates tryptophan alleviation on diarrhea by repairing intestine barrier involved mTOR pathway. Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters (2024).
3. Arginine alleviates Clostridium perfringens α toxin-induced intestinal injury in vivo and in vitro via the SLC38A9/mTORC1 pathway. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).