2-aminopropionic Acid, Acide Alpha-aminopropionique, Acide Aminé Alanine, Acide Aminé Non Essentiel, Ala, Alanine Amino Acid, Alfa-alanina, Alpha-aminopropionic Acid, D-alanine, D-alpha-alanine, DL-alanine, L-alanine, L-alpha-alanine, L-alpha-aminopropionic Acid, Non-essential Amino Acid.
Alpha-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. Non-essential amino acids can be made by the body, so they don't have to be provided by food. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
You may see the terms “L-alpha-alanine” and “D-alpha-alanine.“ The “L” refers to the “left-handed” chemical form of the alpha-alanine molecule. The “D” refers to the “right-handed” chemical form of the molecule. The L and D forms are mirror-images of each other.
Alpha-alanine is used for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), diarrhea-related dehydration, liver disease, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH), fatigue, stress, and certain inherited disorders including glycogen storage disease and urea cycle disorders.
How does it work?
Alpha-alanine is an amino acid. It can affect blood sugar levels.

SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowPossibly Effective for...
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people with type 1 diabetes. Some research shows that taking L-alpha-alanine by mouth can raise blood sugar levels after a “blood sugar low” due to taking too much insulin. L-alpha-alanine can also prevent blood sugar from dropping too low overnight.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Diarrhea-related dehydration. Studies to date have produced mixed results about the effectiveness of L-alpha-alanine in treating dehydration due to diarrhea.
- An inherited disorder called glycogen storage disease. There is some evidence that L-alpha-alanine can improve some, but not all, symptoms of the disease.
- Schizophrenia. Early research suggests D-alpha-alanine might help regular drugs work better for improving symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
- Liver disease.
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH).
- Fatigue.
- Stress.
- Urea cycle disorders.
- Other conditions.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

QUESTION
Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See AnswerDiabetes: 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 alpha-alanine.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For treating low blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes due to too much insulin: 20-40 grams of L-alpha-alanine.
- For preventing low blood sugar at night in people with type 1 diabetes: 40 grams of L-alpha-alanine at bedtime along with 10 grams of glucose (sugar).

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