Optimal Result:
1 - 4 umol/L.
Aspartic acid is a nonessential amino acid that plays roles in many important metabolic processes, such as energy production (citric acid cycle), hormone metabolism, CNS activation, and the urea cycle. It is found in many protein sources such as oysters, meats, seeds, avocado, asparagus, and beets. It is also an ingredient in artificial sweeteners.
Aspartic acid is a precursor to many amino acids and other molecules like asparagine, arginine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, isoleucine, threonine, nucleotides, NAD, and pantothenate. Aspartate, like glutamine, can also be considered a neuroexcitatory neurotransmitter since it activates the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the brain.
Aspartate transaminase (AST) is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of an amino group from L-aspartate to alpha-keto glutarate. This reaction serves as a cellular energy source and takes place mainly in the liver, skeletal muscle, myocardium, and kidneys. Although AST is commonly measured on traditional laboratory profiles as a measure of liver dysfunction and muscle injury, it is not specific enough to be used alone as a diagnostic tool.
References:
- NCIthesaurus. Aspartic Acid. 2020.
- Reitzer L. Biosynthesis of Glutamate, Aspartate, Asparagine, L-Alanine, and D-Alanine. EcoSal Plus. 2004;1(1).
- Kobylarek D, Iwanowski P, Lewandowska Z, et al. Advances in the potential biomarkers of epilepsy. Front Neurol. 2019;10.
- Ono K, Ono T, Matsumata T. The pathogenesis of decreased aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activity in the plasma of hemodialysis patients: the role of vitamin B6 deficiency. Clinical Nephrol. 1995;43(6):405-408.
- Lomelino CL, Andring JT, McKenna R, Kilberg MS. Asparagine synthetase: Function, structure, and role in disease. J Biol Chem. 2017;292(49):19952-19958.
- Stegink LD, Filer LJ, Jr., Bell EF, Ziegler EE. Plasma amino acid concentrations in normal adults administered aspartame
in capsules or solution: lack of bioequivalence. Metabolism: Clin Exp. 1987;36(5):507-512.
Lab Results Explained and Tracked
What does it mean if your Aspartic Acid result is too high?
Elevated aspartic acid may reflect high intake of aspartate- rich foods or use of artificial sweeteners containing aspartic acid (“NutraSweet” or “Equal”).
Elevations may also be due to impaired downstream metabolism from nutritional insufficiencies of enzymatic cofactors such as vitamin B6, magnesium, and ATP.
Because aspartic acid is a major excitatory neurotransmitter, elevations have been noted in epileptic patients.
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What does it mean if your Aspartic Acid result is too low?
Decreased Aspartic Acid Levels: Clinical Implications and Updated Perspectives
Low plasma aspartic acid levels may indicate nutritional deficiencies, metabolic disturbances, or organ dysfunction. While aspartic acid is non-essential, its depletion can reflect systemic imbalances requiring clinical attention. Below are evidence-based causes and considerations:
Nutritional Deficiencies
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Protein-energy malnutrition: Insufficient dietary protein reduces precursor availability for aspartic acid synthesis.
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Vitamin B6 deficiency: This condition impairs transamination reactions critical for aspartic acid metabolism.
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Diabetic contexts: Low aspartic acid correlates with the severity of diabetic kidney disease in murine models, with supplementation showing renoprotective effects through oxidative stress reduction.
Metabolic Disorders
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Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD): ASNSD causes congenital microcephaly and progressive encephalopathy. Interestingly, it can lead to elevated plasma aspartic acid in some patients alongside asparagine deficiency. This condition should be distinguished from aspartate aminotransferase deficiencies, which lack robust clinical documentation.
Organ Dysfunction
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Liver disease: Liver disease typically causes amino acid elevation due to urea cycle impairment. However, specific metabolic defects could theoretically lower aspartic acid in rare scenarios.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD): D-amino acid dysregulation (e.g., D-serine, D-asparagine) correlates with renal impairment. While aromatic amino acid restriction has been shown to improve renal outcomes, specific data regarding aspartic acid's role in CKD remains limited.
Endocrine and Neurological Considerations
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D-aspartic acid: D-aspartic acid regulates testosterone synthesis and neuroendocrine function. Clinical implications of changes in the D/L ratio require further study.
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Neurological disorders: Altered aspartic acid metabolism has been associated with hyperammonemia and various psychiatric conditions.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications
| Clinical Scenario | Actionable Considerations |
|---|---|
| Diabetic kidney disease | Assess aspartic acid levels and consider supplementation under investigation. |
| Developmental delay/microcephaly | Rule out ASNSD with genetic testing (ASNS gene). |
| Unexplained amino acid imbalances | Evaluate D/L-aspartic acid ratios and assess vitamin B6 status. |
Emerging Research
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Aspartic acid supplementation shows promise in diabetic nephropathy models.
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D-amino acid chronobiology research reveals circadian influences on renal glucose metabolism.
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