Alanine
Scientific names: 2-aminopropanoic acid
Alternate names: 2-aminopropionic Acid, Acide Alpha-aminopropionique, Acide Aminé Alanine, Acide Aminé Non Essentiel, Ala, Alanine Amino Acid, Alfa-alanina, Alpha-Alanine, Alpha-aminopropionic Acid, D-alanine, D-alpha-alanine, DL-alanine, L-alanine, L-alpha-alanine, L-alpha-aminopropionic Acid, Non-essential Amino Acid
Background
Alanine (typically as L-alpha-alanine or D-alpha-alanine) is a non-essential amino acid. Non-essential amino acids can be made by the body.
Amino acids like alanine are the building blocks of proteins. Because alanine can be made by the body, it doesn't need to be consumed in food. Alanine can affect blood sugar levels.
People use alanine for dehydration from diarrhea, enlarged prostate, schizophrenia, stress, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse alanine with the similarly named beta-alanine. These are not the same.
Amino acids like alanine are the building blocks of proteins. Because alanine can be made by the body, it doesn't need to be consumed in food. Alanine can affect blood sugar levels.
People use alanine for dehydration from diarrhea, enlarged prostate, schizophrenia, stress, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse alanine with the similarly named beta-alanine. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Alanine is commonly consumed in foods. Alanine is possibly safe when used as medicine for up to 3 months.
Children: Alanine is possibly safe when taken by mouth as part of a rehydration drink for up to 48 hours.
Diabetes: L-alpha-alanine can increase blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This can be helpful if blood sugar levels are too low, but it can be harmful if blood sugar levels are normal or too high. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use alanine.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Alanine is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if alanine is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Children: Alanine is possibly safe when taken by mouth as part of a rehydration drink for up to 48 hours.
Diabetes: L-alpha-alanine can increase blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This can be helpful if blood sugar levels are too low, but it can be harmful if blood sugar levels are normal or too high. Monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use alanine.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using alanine for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of alanine might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if Alanine interacts with any medicines. Before taking Alanine, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per 10 g (Citrus Twist):
- L-alanine
- Medicago sativa
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Spinacia oleracea
- Petroselinum crispum
- Fagopyrum esculentum (leaf)
- Chlorella vulgaris powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (sprout) powder
- Malus (Apple)
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Pyrus communis (Pear)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Citrus aurantiifolia (Lime)
- Urtica dioica
- Mentha x piperita
- Camellia sinensis
- Apium graveolens
- Cucumis sativus
- Magnesium citrate
- Potassium citrate
- L-glutamine
- Calcium citrate
- Natural flavours
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf) ext. dry
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. dry
- Curcuma longa ext. dry
- Withania somnifera ext. dry
- Camellia sinensis ext. dry
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. dry
- Aloe barbadensis ext. dry
- Gardenia jasminoides ext. dry
- Piper nigrum ext. dry
- Magnesium gluconate
- Apple pectin
- Xanthan gum
- L-histidine
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Potassium ascorbate (Vitamin C)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Zinc gluconate
- Ferrous fumarate
- Manganese citrate
- Selenomethionine
- Vitamin D
- Chromium picolinate
- Citrus x latifolia (Tahitian lime)
- Acacia sp. (fibre)
200 g Citrus Twist
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Per 30 g (Tropical Crush):
- L-alanine
- Hydrolysed pea protein
- Glycine
- L-valine
- L-leucine
- L-isoleucine
- L-proline
- L-phenylalanine
- L-tyrosine
- L-serine
- L-threonine
- L-methionine
- L-arginine
- L-histidine
- L-lysine
- L-aspartic acid
- L-glutamic acid
- L-tryptophan
- L-cysteine
- Natural flavours
- Cichorium intybus (root) (Chicory)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Coconut water powder
- Medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
- Potassium citrate
- Magnesium citrate
- Sodium chloride (Salt)
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Thaumatin
- Beta-carotene
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
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RRP: $79.95$65.96Save: 17%
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Per 30 g (Chocolate):
RRP: $79.95$65.56Save: 18%
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Per 30 g (Vanilla Bean):
400 g Vanilla Bean
RRP: $54.95$45.61Save: 17%
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RRP: $52.95$43.96Save: 17%
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Per 30 g (Vanilla Bean):
- Whey protein isolate 29.94 g
- Sunflower lecithin
- Natural flavours
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla bean)
- Bacillus coagulans (MTCC 5260)
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Lipase
RRP: $149.95$123.71Save: 17%
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Per 33 g (Banana Ice-Cream):
RRP: $83.88$73.81Save: 12%
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Per 30 g (Milk Chocolate):
- Whey protein microfiltered
- Hydrolysed WPI (Whey protein)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lactase
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Xanthan gum
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Flavour
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
RRP: $109.95$98.96Save: 10%
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Per 48 g:
- Whey protein concentrate
- Whey protein isolate
- Flavour
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (powder) (MCT)
- Calcium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium citrate
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Calcium citrate
- Zinc gluconate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A)
- Chromium chloride
- Ferrous fumarate
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acetate
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Copper sulfate
- Magnesium citrate
- Cholecalciferol
- Folic acid
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Sodium selenite
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Biotin
- Potassium iodide
- Sodium molybdate
- Soy lecithin
- Stevia rebaubiana
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RRP: $49.95$42.46Save: 15%
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1 kg Chocolate
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Per 30 g (Vanilla Maple):
- Golden pea protein
- Marine collagen peptides
- Natural flavours
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf) ext.
- Hippophae rhamnoides juice
- Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit)
- Lactase
RRP: $49.95$39.96Save: 20%
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RRP: $59.95$49.76Save: 17%
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Per 30 g (Vanilla Bean):
500 g Vanilla Bean
RRP: $39.95$32.76Save: 18%
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Per 30 g (Cacao):
- Pea protein isolate 25.2 g
- Dunaliella salina equiv. beta-carotene 390 µg
- Aloe barbadensis 1 g
- Malpighia glabra equiv. vitamin C 50 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 2.5 mg
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Thaumatin
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
RRP: $54.76$35.60Save: 35%
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Per 20 g (Vanilla):
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice protein fermented)
- L-lysine
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Cellulase
- Proteolytic enzymes
Practitioner product
Per 14 g (Unflavoured):
- Bovine collagen peptides (Gelatin)
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Arctic sea algae
- Mushroom powder
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Per 30 g:
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice sprout, bio-fermented protein) 23.4 g
- Theobroma cacao 4.2 g
- Natural flavours
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Sunflower seed extract
- Magnesium
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Thaumatin
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
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Per 30 g:
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice sprout, bio-fermented protein) 24.9 g
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla bean) 0.06 g
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Oryza sativa milk powder (Brown rice)
- Natural flavours
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Sunflower seed extract
- Magnesium
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Thaumatin
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This monograph was last reviewed on 07/04/2025 10:00:00. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
