Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid Unit Converter

Alpha-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA) is an amino acid produced in the body during the breakdown of lysine, an essential amino acid you get from food. It is not used to build proteins. Instead, it serves as a metabolic intermediate on the pathway that converts lysine into energy.

When measured in blood, 2-AAA reflects the rate of lysine catabolism, vitamin B6 status, and certain aspects of mitochondrial metabolic function. It is primarily produced inside the body rather than absorbed directly from food.

Research has identified 2-AAA as an emerging biomarker for metabolic health, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk. Elevated levels may appear years before a diabetes diagnosis.

Produced primarily in the liver through the saccharopine pathway of lysine degradation. It can also be generated non-enzymatically through oxidative damage to lysine residues in proteins, particularly during inflammation or aging.