What are amino acids primarily known as?

Amino acids are primarily known as the building blocks of protein. This is because proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids that are linked together through peptide bonds. When proteins are consumed through diet, they are broken down into amino acids during digestion, which are then used by the body to synthesize new proteins that are essential for various bodily functions, including muscle repair, enzyme function, immune responses, and hormone production.

Each protein's unique structure and function are determined by the sequence and composition of the amino acids that compose it. There are 20 different standard amino acids that combine in various sequences to form the myriad proteins necessary for life, highlighting the central role of amino acids in biological processes.

While vitamins, carbohydrates, and fatty acids play essential roles in nutrition and metabolism, they do not serve as the basic building blocks of proteins, which distinctly characterizes amino acids.