BCAA's is a supplement containing branched-chain amino acids which is very popular with sports enthusiasts. It contains 3 essential amino acids not produced by the body - L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-valine – in a 2:1:1 ratio that corresponds to their distribution in the make-up of proteins.
Branched-chain amino acids are essential amino acids (which means they have to be obtained from the diet) that have an aliphatic side chain. They form part of the composition of proteins and constitute a source of energy by contributing, in particular, to the Krebs cycle. These three amino acids represent more than 30% of the amino acids that make up muscles. Their concentration in plasma diminishes following intensive exercise (1-3).
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has issued daily intake recommendations for these essential amino acids:
On this basis, a daily dose of our BCAA’s supplement would easily cover the needs of a sportsman weighing 100 kg.
Proteins – which are made up of amino acids – have two main functions in the body:
According to the scientific literature, at least 1.2g/kg of protein a day is required in order to maintain muscle mass. To gain muscle mass, however, the figure is higher, with most publications agreeing that 1.5/kg to 2.2/kg is the optimum range for building muscle without any risk to health.
Amounts such as these are often difficult to achieve without taking a supplement, especially if you want to avoid gaining body fat at the same time. What’s more, eating large amounts of certain high-protein foods – red meat for example - is not good for health (4).
Supplementing with amino acids offers an alternative to taking proteins: even though they are only monomers of proteins, they are absorbed much more rapidly by the body.
Dietary intake of proteins (which are broken down into amino acids during digestion) and of amino acids enables free amino acids to circulate in the body, in cells and in the extracellular milieu. These free amino acids are then used as ‘building blocks’ to construct new proteins in the body. This is a continuous process as cellular and plasma proteins are constantly renewed throughout life.
This process uses a huge amount of energy: around 0.85 kcal per gram of protein synthesised.
The best dietary sources of BCAAs are primarily meat (especially chicken), nuts (cashew, pecan, almonds), cocoa, eggs, cheese, milk, certain vegetables (pumpkin, aubergines, beetroot) and pulses (black beans, peas).
The recommended dose is two scoops a day, as required, just before or after exercise.
The following supplements can also be taken in conjunction with BCAA’s:
When we exercise, carbohydrates are metabolised in order to provide the energy we need. If blood sugar levels are too low, the body will draw on its muscle reserves. It’s therefore a good idea to consume carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index (GI) (glucose or maltose for example) just before or during exercise to reduce any loss of glycogen. When at rest, however, you should opt for low GI carbs to encourage production of glycogen to restore muscle reserves.
january 2 2024
Complément très bien pour mon activité professionnelle sportive.
november 23 2023
Permet une récupération physique rapide, idéal pour tenir la cadence d une séance de fitness intensive.
july 24 2023
A diferència de d'altres productes, aquest es dilueix molt millor perquè el producte és molt més fi.
june 28 2023
Cumple bastante bien su cometido
april 10 2023
Difficile d'évaluer un produit qui va agir plutôt dans la durée et qui est à prendre au long cours, mais déjà des résultats positifs après plusieurs semaine d'utilisation sur les muscles et les ligaments des pieds, c'est encourageant je continu en renfort à d'autres protéines A.F.