For many years, health science students have used Pvt Tim Hall to remember the essential amino acids. Pvt is the abbreviation used by the military for private.
Phenylalanine-Valine-Tryptophane, Threonine-Isoleucine-Methionine, Histidine-Arginine-Lysine-Leucine
Of the 10 essential amino acids:
- The three basic amino acids are listed (Histidine-Arginine-Lysine)
- The three branched chain amino acids are listed (Valine-Isoleucine-Leucine)
The last two, Lysine and Leucine, are the only two purely ketogenic amino acids
Remember that arginine is not an essential amino acid in an adult.