what does the "L" mean? ⚛️

(it doesn't stand for "loser") ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Today in "Questions you didn't have until I emailed you," we're exploring protein chemistry! Lucky you, {NAME}. Have you ever noticed that pet supplements are sometimes similar to human supplements (hello, [glucosamine](... But sometimes pet supplement names have the letter "L" listed before the supplement name? Think L-Lysine. L-Theanine. L-Tryptophan. OK, you might not have noticed that. But I did. And I was curious. What does the L mean? [Wait... wha?] Don't worry, Jeff. I'm confused too. So I went to my most trusted source: My mother, the neuroscientist. My mom explained to me that (and this is kinda disappointing, but also reassuring) the L prefix means... nothing. Wait, why?? First, a little context: - You'll only see "L" listed on amino acid supplements (yanno, amino acids: the building blocks of life! *echoes of 7th grade science class*). Amino acid molecules are composed of individual atoms connected by bonds. - But interestingly, amino acids have "stereoisomers". These mirror-image molecules include all the same atoms — they just differ in the arrangement of those bonds in space. - Scientists actually discovered that amino acids could be either "left-handed" or "right-handed" by shining light through amino acids and realizing that the light refracted differently based on the bond structure. - The L, or "levorotatory" form of an amino acid, means that a given amino acid rotates polarized light to the left. (L = Levorotatory = Left.) The D, or dextrorotary form, rotates light to the right. (Dextro means "right," which all the Latin dorks in your class would have told you if you'd just listened.) - So when you see "L" on a supplement, it's referring to the bond structure of the amino acid inside. Cool, right? Here's a sort-of-helpful visual aid (those pink blobs are hands): [Contents: Anger incarnate.] Image unceremoniously stolen from [this page](. Didn't think someone would send you a diagram of molecular structure today, did you? L-format amino acids also happen to be the more bioavailable (AKA easily absorbable by the body) form for living creatures, which is why... Whether or not they're labeled with "L," all human and pet amino acid supplements are actually "L". Y'all. When I started researching this question, I had no idea I'd get down to the molecular level. (And I almost gave up. Sorry, Mom, but science isn't my top talent. Apparently it's not a genetic trait.) But now I — and maybe you? — can shop for supplements in peace, knowing we're not accidentally buying the wrong thing for ourselves or our pets. Thanks for coming on this incredibly nerdy journey with me, Lianna 🤓 Our [Liquid Vitamins for Dogs]( are packed with bioavailable amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to pep up your pup on the daily Getting too many emails and need to [unsubscribe]( Give your pet a goodbye squeeze for us. <3 Paramount Pet Health 1631 Livingstone Road Suite B Hudson, WI 54016