Excess amino acids are converted by the liver into what components?

The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing excess amino acids, primarily converting them into two key substances: fatty acids and urea. When amino acids are in excess, the liver deaminates them, removing the amino group and resulting in ammonia, which is then converted to urea. This urea is safely excreted from the body through urine. The remaining carbon skeletons can be transformed into various intermediates, including acetyl-CoA, which can subsequently be converted into fatty acids for energy storage or other metabolic needs.

This process helps maintain amino acid balance in the body and ensures that excess protein intake does not lead to toxicity. Fatty acids can be stored in adipose tissue, while urea helps in the safe disposal of nitrogen waste from protein metabolism. The conversion processes related to amino metabolism are essential for energy regulation and detoxification in the human body.