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It was proposed recently that dicarboxylic acids are alternate lipid substrates in parenteral nutrition. Basically, they are water soluble, undergo b-oxidation, do not induce ketogenesis but rather promote gluconeogenesis. They could represent an immediately available form of energy. Thus, inorganic salts of sebacic (C10) and lauric (C12) acids were firstly proposed, but now, triglycerides containing these fatty acids are under investigation. Treatment of rats with derivatives of C16 dioic acid have shown that this compound markedly improved lipid metabolism and inhibited the development of advanced cardiovascular disease.

The amino acid selenocysteine Non-standard amino acids Aside from the 22 standard amino acids, there are a vast number of other amino acids that are called non-proteinogenic or non-standard. Those are either not found in proteins (for example carnitine, GABA, or L-DOPA), or are not produced directly and in isolation by standard cellular machinery (for example hydroxyproline and selenomethionine). Non-standard amino acids that are found in proteins are formed by post-translational modification, which is modification after translation during protein synthesis.

A lack of linoleic acid and other n-6 fatty acids in the diet causes dry hair, hair loss, and poor wound healing. Metabolism and eicosanoids The first step in the metabolism of Linoleic Acid (LA) is performed by Δ6desaturase, which converts LA into gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is evidence suggesting that infants lack Δ6desaturase of their own, and must acquire it through breast milk. Studies show that breast-milk fed babies have higher concentrations of GLA than formula-fed babies, while formula-fed babies have elevated concentrations of LA.