Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions which include nitrate amino acid chelates that can increase the metabolic activity or metal concentration in animals and that can increase metabolic activity and nitrogen content in plants. In one embodiment, a nitrate-complexed amino acid composition can comprise a metal, an amino acid ligand, and a nitrate, wherein the amino acid ligand is chelated to the metal forming an amino acid chelate and the nitrate is complexed to the amino acid chelate. In another embodiment, a nitrate-chelated amino acid composition can comprise a metal, an amino acid ligand, and a nitrate, wherein the amino acid ligand and the nitrate are chelated to the metal forming a nitrate-chelated amino acid chelate.