Introduction to the 2nd Amino Acid Assessment Workshop

The proportions of amino acids in diets typical of human populations usually differ from the proportions in which they are required, although adverse effects due to such differences are not common. However, there is little systematic information about the adverse effects and the pathophysiological mechanisms of excessive intakes of single or mixtures of amino acids in human subjects. To promote the safe and effective application of amino acids in clinical nutrition and for health promotion it is necessary to establish a sound scientific basis for evaluating their efficacy and safety under various conditions of use. Hence, a series of Amino Acid Assessment Workshops (AAAW) are being organized to bring together experts in amino acid nutrition, metabolism, cell and molecular biology, toxicology and regulation/policy with the eventual purpose of establishing a paradigm for the characterization of risks associated with the ingestion of specific intakes of amino acids by humans. In this introductory paper I summarize the major issues arising at the 1st AAAW, held in Tokyo June, 2001, and provide an introductory context to the present, 2nd AAAW.