GLOSSARY

Carboxyl Group is an acidic group in amino acids whose ionisation changes with environment. It participates in peptide bonds and is not synonymous with a food's general acidity.

Common protein amino acids use amino and carboxyl groups in the chain backbone, while side chains create differences. Charge depends on the environment and pH; a neutral textbook drawing is not always the dominant bodily form. A chemical-group name alone establishes neither an ergogenic effect nor a supplement's nutritional value.

Aspartate and glutamate name ionic forms of aspartic and glutamic acids under suitable conditions. Asparagine and glutamine are related amides but distinct amino acids. Names, charge and functions differ; a small spelling change on an ingredient list can identify another substance rather than an interchangeable version of the same compound.

Dipeptides and tripeptides contain two and three amino-acid residues respectively. Boundaries among oligopeptide, polypeptide and protein vary by convention; length alone does not determine biological function. A hydrolysed mixture may also contain multiple chain lengths rather than one uniform molecule with a single predictable effect.