Aspartic acid, also known as aspartate, is one of the 20 amino acids commonly used in your body. It’s considered a nonessential amino acid because it can be synthesized within your body from oxaloacetate, which is an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Amino acids and most other biologically active molecules are chiral, which means they exist as two molecules that are the mirror image of each other. In other words, they have the same chemical formula and similar properties, but they are oriented differently. Most naturally occurring proteins consist of L-form or “left-handed” amino acids, although the D-form or “right-handed” varieties are used by your body also.
