BCAA's are a group of amino acids that are well known by gym practitioners, and are one of the supplements that you will find obligatorily in any sports nutrition store.
These are three essential amino acids, they are: Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine.
These three amino acids are found in practically all protein-rich foods, such as meat, fish or eggs, so if you eat a protein-rich diet, you probably already have a reasonable consumption of BCAA's.
Does this mean that it is not worth using this supplement?
Maybe yes maybe not.
The supplementation of BCAA's in a diet rich in proteins of high biological value is not essential, but it can be beneficial, especially Leucine.
During exercise, there is a decline in these amino acids which leads, for example, to fatigue.
To better understand the benefits of BCAA's, let's isolate them, and talk a little about each one.
- Although much of the information in this article can be applied to all types of sports activities, it is focused above all on the world of gym and weight training.
Leucine
Leucine is considered the most important amino acid in this group, and we can even say that it is the most important amino acid of all amino acids when it comes to the gym!
This why?
Because Leucine is the most potent amino acid of all to stimulate protein synthesis, which will lead to anabolism and consequent muscle growth.
The main mechanism of action of Leucine, is through the activation of a protein called mTOR.
This protein has an important role in the regulation of protein synthesis, and consequently in muscle growth.
Now, this does not mean that you just take a daily shower of Leucine and you will have muscle gains!
In addition to activating mTOR, Leucine stimulates the secretion of insulin, an extremely anabolic hormone and one of the metabolites of Leucine is HMB, known for its anti-catabolic action.
If it were only possible to choose one of the three amino acids, Leucine would be the best choice if your goal is to gain muscle mass, and you can easily find it on sale as an isolated supplement.
Isoleucine
After Leucine, the most important amino acid in this set is Isoleucine.
While Leucine plays an anabolic and muscle growth role above all, Isoleucine works more as an anti-catabolic and increases and maintains performance.and.
Isoleucine promotes the consumption and storage of glucose within muscle cells, leading to a more efficient use of energy.
In addition, it also induces protein synthesis, albeit less significantly than Leucine.
Therefore, with Isoleucine supplementation, it is possible that it takes more time to achieve fatigue and to stop exercise.
Valina
Finally, we have Valina, which is the least studied of the three amino acids in isolation, and also the one that theoretically provides the least benefits.
Valina shares some of the benefits of the other two amino acids, but it is less effective than both, and so far has no exclusive benefit as with the other two.
It is still an essential amino acid and with important functions in the body, it is only weaker when compared to both Leucine and Isoleucine when the objective is to improve body composition.
Now that we've talked a little about each of the amino acids, you already know what to expect from supplementing with BCAA's.
The synergy between the three amino acids can bring benefits such as:
- Greater muscle growth
- More performance
- Fatigue reduction
- Less muscle pain
The most notable benefits are in terms of reduced fatigue and muscle recovery.
Now, is it worth supplementing with BCAA's?
Those who already use whey protein before and after training will notice few benefits with BCAA's, since whey protein is naturally rich in these three amino acids, and each dose (of good whey) brings an average of 4g to 5g of BCAA's.
This does not mean that it is useless, it is just far from essential.
Supplementation with BCAA's makes sense at specific times, such as before, during and after training. This is where BCAA supplementation comes in, and it's very common to see these three amino acids in pre-workout supplements.
This is because it will promote an anabolic environment, mitigate fatigue and improve performance during training, which can lead to better results.
Who will benefit from BCAA's?
- Anyone looking to increase muscle mass, increase in protein synthesis and greater glucose storage in muscle cells will help.
- Those who want to lose fat mass will benefit from the anti-catabolic action of BCAA's.
- Those who practice endurance sports, BCAA supplementation will delay the action of fatigue, helping to maintain performance.
- Who trains in fast or with very little food, when waking up for example.
How much and when should I use BCAA's?
The best time to use BCAA's supplementation is before, during and after training.
You must use at least 5g, and you can use up to 15g to 20g, in a split way.
I'm undecided between BCAA's powder or pills, help me!
Powdered BCAA's are usually cheaper and easier to dose, but taste bad if you use the unflavored version.
Now in pills, in addition to paying more, you will probably have to fill yourself with pills to reach the ideal dose.
Yes, it's true, we prefer powdered BCAA's.
The most common division is 2: 1: 1, that is, the dose of leucine is usually twice the amount of isoleucine and valine, and if you read the article, you know why! There are also formulas that go further, and use concentrations of leucine that are triple or quadruple compared to their other two companions.
Conclusion and opinion
BCAA's are an interesting supplement, as long as you don't expect miracles.
They help you to recover faster and spend less time complaining about the muscle pain of leg training, in addition to that in weight loss diets they can give a good help in maintaining muscle mass.
Now, if you already use a diet high in quality proteins and you are in caloric excess, the benefit will only exist if you use BCAA's at the right times.
It is important to note that most of the benefits of these amino acids happen not only through supplementation, but also through food, so a diet high in quality proteins is also high in BCAA's.
However, the use of BCAA's before, during and after training has benefits that can only be achieved with supplementation, such as reducing fatigue and creating a more anabolic environment around training. Unless you're thinking of having a steak mid-workout, of course.
If you already use whey before and after training, supplementation with BCAA's from 0 to 5 would probably be a 2, mitigating fatigue mainly during training.
If you don't use whey, but follow a diet rich in high biological value proteins, it would be a 3, and if that diet isn't very refined in protein terms, BCAA's would probably get a 3.5.
In our opinion, it is a supplement that lags behind the whey protein or the creatine for example, but it is more advantageous than supplements like glutamine or arginine.
If you have already used it, leave your opinion in the comments and tell us what you noticed and whether or not they are worth it.
And on non-training days, you have to keep taking it..??
Probably not necessary, but it depends on diet, etc.
Ok thank you very much for the answer, my diet is rich in quality nutrients…
during weight loss it is important to take BCAA's to prevent catabolism and preserve muscle mass. But since leucine stimulates the production of insulin, can't that interfere, for example before training, with the ability to burn fat?
During training the goal should always be to maintain muscle mass, not lose fat.