It's a metabolic intermediate of the citric acid cycle - the cycle is needed to reduce electron carriers (NAD+/FAD) which are then used to drive the electron transport chain for making ATP. In simplest terms: it's an important part of aerobic respiration.
That being said, it can be synthesized de novo very easily so long as your cells have enough glucose/fatty acids and enzymes are functioning properly. It's even formed directly by deamination of glutamate. I'm not sure these results would be very transferrable to humans.
That being said, it can be synthesized de novo very easily so long as your cells have enough glucose/fatty acids and enzymes are functioning properly. It's even formed directly by deamination of glutamate. I'm not sure these results would be very transferrable to humans.