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Exploring branched chain amino acids: scientific understanding and applications

2024-10-11

1、 Introduction to branched chain amino acids

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are composed of three types of amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Branched chain amino acids are essential amino acids for the human body, which cannot be synthesized by the body itself and must be provided by food protein. They are named after the prominent branches on their carbon skeleton.

Leucine, isoleucine, and valine play important roles in the human body. They can directly absorb nutrients, promote metabolism, repair cells, improve intestinal function, and facilitate postoperative recovery. Meanwhile, branched chain amino acids can also increase muscle mass, reduce fat, and provide nutrition for the human body. According to research, whey protein has a high content of branched chain amino acids.

Branched chain amino acids promote synthetic metabolism in two special ways, namely promoting insulin release and promoting growth hormone release. As a carrier of nitrogen, branched chain amino acids assist in the synthesis of other amino acids required for muscle synthesis. Simply put, they participate in the process of synthesizing complex and complete muscle tissue from simple amino acids. Branched chain amino acids stimulate the production of insulin, and the main function of insulin is to allow peripheral blood glucose to be absorbed by muscles as an energy source, while also promoting muscle absorption of amino acids.

Branched chain amino acids have both synthetic and anti decomposition effects. They can significantly increase protein synthesis, promote the release of related hormones such as growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, and insulin, and help maintain a reasonable testosterone/cortisol ratio. When calorie intake is relatively low, such as during the pre match dietary control phase, the rate of protein synthesis decreases while protein breakdown increases. At this time, it is strongly recommended to use branched chain amino acids to prevent protein breakdown and muscle loss.

BCAA powder

2、 The role of branched chain amino acids

(1) Muscle building and energy supply through exercise

Branched chain amino acids play an important role in muscle building and energy supply for exercise. It can stimulate muscle protein synthesis and promote muscle growth. During exercise, branched chain amino acids can provide timely energy supply to the body, enhance exercise ability, and prolong exercise time. For example, during the fitness process, many people choose to consume branched chain amino acid supplements before and after training. During training, the consumption of branched chain amino acids in muscles is rapid. Early intake of branched chain amino acids can serve as a stable direct energy source in muscles, maintaining higher energy levels during training. Meanwhile, branched chain amino acids can also reduce the degree of muscle damage and decrease protein breakdown, promoting a positive nitrogen balance in the body. They are widely used as exercise supplements.

(2) The impact on the brain

Branched chain amino acids can reduce the production of serotonin in the brain and alleviate mental fatigue. Tryptophan in amino acids is responsible for synthesizing serotonin in the brain, while valine in branched chain amino acids works to prevent tryptophan from entering the brain. Some studies have confirmed that taking branched chain amino acids before training can reduce the amount of tryptophan entering the brain, thereby reducing serotonin levels and relieving fatigue. Therefore, the intake of branched chain amino acids can help us prevent fatigue during training, make your training more difficult and lasting, and improve mood and brain function.

(3) Extend lifespan

In the experiment on mice, branched chain amino acids extended the lifespan of mice. A research team from the University of Wisconsin Madison found that a low branched chain amino acid diet can significantly improve the metabolic health of mice and prolong their lifespan. This mixture of leucine, isoleucine, and valine can trigger positive cellular changes, such as increasing energy intake and reducing free radicals. This indicates that branched chain amino acids may play an important role in prolonging lifespan.

3、 The acquisition pathway of branched chain amino acids

(1) Daily diet

Branched chain amino acids can be obtained through daily diet. Animal based foods such as beef, pork, and chicken are rich in leucine, with approximately 2 grams of leucine per 100 grams of beef; Chicken and turkey meat in poultry contain more valine and isoleucine; Fish, eggs, dairy products, etc. also contain abundant branched chain amino acids.

(2) Nutritional supplements

For athletes or fitness enthusiasts, branched chain amino acid nutritional supplements can be appropriately supplemented under specific circumstances. Athletes engaged in high-intensity exercise, such as those who undergo daily endurance and strength training, may require additional supplementation of branched chain amino acids due to high physical exertion. But before supplementing, it is necessary to understand one's dietary protein intake and avoid excessive intake. Generally speaking, it is recommended to supplement branched chain amino acid nutritional supplements with about 5 grams per day, which can be used at any time of the day. But to achieve the best absorption effect, it is generally recommended to eat half an hour before the start of exercise or half an hour after the end of exercise. Meanwhile, after exercise, it is best to consume branched chain amino acids together with carbohydrates, as this is beneficial for muscle repair and regeneration.

4、 Application of branched chain amino acids in sports nutrition

Branched chain amino acids are crucial for athletes. In high-intensity training and competitions, athletes' bodies are under tremendous pressure, and branched chain amino acids can help them improve their athletic performance. Research has shown that athletes engaged in high-intensity exercise who consume 10-20 grams of branched chain amino acids per day can reduce muscle pain and accelerate muscle recovery. For example, in marathon races, prolonged endurance exercise is particularly prone to muscle loss, while supplementing branched chain amino acids can promote protein synthesis, help muscle recovery, and reduce the degree of muscle damage.

Branched chain amino acids can also delay the occurrence of fatigue. During the process of exercise, when the body is about to run out of energy or when it is depleted, branched chain amino acids will come into play, providing energy to the body in a timely manner, allowing athletes to continue to persevere. In addition, branched chain amino acids have anti central fatigue and anti muscle fatigue effects, which can delay and alleviate central fatigue, accelerate the recovery and clearance of a series of substances in the body after exercise, such as free radical clearance, blood lactate clearance, glycogen recovery, and so on. The enhancement of the body's anti fatigue ability can not only effectively ensure the quality of training, but also help improve athletic ability and performance, while promoting fatigue recovery and avoiding sports injuries.

5、 Future prospects

Branched chain amino acids, as an important nutrient, are expected to benefit humanity, especially the elderly or patients, in the future with the continuous deepening of scientific research.

Continuous development in the field of sports nutrition

In the field of sports nutrition, branched chain amino acids will continue to play an important role. With the increasing emphasis on health and fitness, more and more people are participating in various sports. For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, branched chain amino acids can help them improve athletic performance, reduce muscle pain, and accelerate muscle recovery. In the future, the types of branched chain amino acid products will be more diverse and the formulas will be more scientific to meet the needs of different populations.


6、How to screen high-quality branched chain amino acid raw material suppliers

When selecting suppliers of branched chain amino acid raw materials, multiple factors need to be considered comprehensively to ensure obtaining high-quality raw materials.

1、 Product Quality

Purity requirement: High quality branched chain amino acid raw materials should have high purity. High purity raw materials can ensure the effectiveness and safety of the product. For example, branched chain amino acid raw materials with a purity of over 99% can better exert their effects and reduce the potential adverse effects of impurities on the human body.

Composition ratio: The ratio of leucine, isoleucine, and valine should meet the standard. It is generally recommended to have a ratio of leucine: isoleucine: valine=2:1:1, which can effectively utilize the function of branched chain amino acids. Suppliers should provide accurate ingredient analysis reports to ensure that the product's ingredient ratios meet the requirements.

No harmful substances: The raw materials should be free of harmful substances such as heavy metals, pesticide residues, and microbial contamination. For example, according to relevant standards, the heavy metal content in branched chain amino acid raw materials should be below certain limits, such as lead content not exceeding 0.5mg/kg, mercury content not exceeding 0.1mg/kg, etc. Meanwhile, the raw materials should undergo strict testing to ensure no pesticide residues or microbial contamination.

2、 Production process

Extraction technology: Advanced extraction technology can ensure the quality and purity of raw materials. For example, branched chain amino acid raw materials produced by biological fermentation technology or enzymatic synthesis technology have the advantages of high purity and good safety. Compared to traditional chemical synthesis methods, these techniques can reduce the generation of impurities and improve product quality.

Quality control: Suppliers should have a strict quality control system to ensure stable product quality for each batch. This includes the full process quality control from raw material procurement, production process to finished product testing. For example, suppliers should establish a comprehensive quality management system, such as the ISO 9001 quality management system, to strictly monitor the production process and ensure that products meet quality standards.

Production environment: A good production environment is an important factor in ensuring product quality. The production workshop should comply with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and maintain a clean, hygienic, and sterile environment. For example, the production workshop should have an air purification system to ensure that the levels of microorganisms and dust in the air meet the requirements; Production equipment should be regularly cleaned and disinfected to prevent cross contamination.




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