Are BCAAs required if you're consuming adequate protein levels

[TheFugitive]

BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO ACIDS

Branched-chain amino acids are made up of three essential amino acids- Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. They aid the body in producing insulin, which helps the body turn sugar into energy. So put simply, BCAAs are a type of amino acid, and amino acids are what make up proteins, and proteins are what make up your muscle tissues! So this may lead you to ask, if I already consume protein powder why do I need BCAAs?

Branched-chain amino acids make up approximately 35% of your muscle mass and are depleted quicker than any other amino acids when you exercise. Consuming BCAAs offers the quickest way to boost your muscle endurance and recovery as these three amino acids are not metabolized in the liver first and go straight to your muscles. Aside from offering a more concentrated dose of amino acids when you are exercising, BCAAs are also easier to digest and stomach during exercise.

BCAAs have unique properties with diverse physiological and metabolic roles. They have functions other than simple nutrition. Different diseases including metabolic disease lead to protein loss, especially muscle protein. Supplementation of BCAAs promotes protein synthesis and reduces break down, as well as improving disease conditions. They are important regulators of mTOR signaling pathway and regulate protein synthesis as well as protein turnover.

BCAAs facilitate glucose uptake by liver and SK muscle and also enhance glycogen synthesis. Oxidation of BCAAs seems to be beneficial for metabolic health as their catabolism increases fatty acid oxidation and reduces risk of obesity. BCAAs are also important in immunity, brain function, and other physiological aspects of well-being. All three BCAAs are absolutely required for lymphocyte growth and proliferation. They are also important for proper immune cell function. BCAAs may influence brain protein synthesis, and production of energy and may influence synthesis of different neurotransmitters. BCAAs can be used therapeutically and future studies may be directed to investigating the diverse effects of BCAAs in different tissues and their signaling pathways.

Are you missing out if you're not using a combination of free form BCAAs and protein?

[VaughnTrue]

this is new and exciting.

wow strong citations and references.

[OT2000]

You must be bored Fug

[compan]

If this section is the Dinosaurs, Fug is the big meteor that wiped it out.

[dougefresh93]

If????

[stan47islav]

This remnants of this forum is like a small town bar.....you got the few respectable people that hang out.
The occasional drop in from others, some new comers...
Then you got that one old person who hangs out all the time that is crazy and rambles on and on about incoherent things which all the locals tend to ignore or set straight when they try their ramblings on the newcomers.

TheFugitive and BCAAS=Weird, rambling old guy.

[lucia316]

[Anthony21]

I seem to be doing fine without a BCAA supplement. With adequate protein intake a BCAA supplement isn't needed for me.

[TheFugitive]

This remnants of this forum is like a small town bar.....you got the few respectable people that hang out.
The occasional drop in from others, some new comers...
Then you got that one old person who hangs out all the time that is crazy and rambles on and on about incoherent things which all the locals tend to ignore or set straight when they try their ramblings on the newcomers.

TheFugitive and BCAAS=Weird, rambling old guy.

Stop pretending like you don't use BCAAs and theres nothing old about it

[eatyourspinach]

Branched-chain amino acids may influence synthesis of different neurotransmitters.

and not in a good way https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23904096

[TheFugitive]

and not in a good way https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23904096

Never trust a rat, but what the hell....

BCAAs may also play important roles in brain function. BCAAs may influence brain protein synthesis and production of energy and may influence synthesis of different neurotransmitters, that is, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and so forth, directly or indirectly. Major portion of dietary BCAAs is not metabolized by liver and comes into systemic circulation after a meal. BCAAs and aromatic AA, such as tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr), and phenylalanine (Phe), share the same transporter protein to transport into brain. Trp is the precursor of neurotransmitter serotonin; Tyr and Phe are precursors of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). When plasma concentration of BCAAs increases, the brain absorption of BCAAs also increases with subsequent reduction of aromatic AA absorption. That may lead to decrease in synthesis of these related neurotransmitters. Catecholamines are important in lowering blood pressure. When hypertensive rats were injected with Tyr, their blood pressure dropped markedly and injection with equimolar amount of valine blocks that action. In vigorous working persons, such as in athletes, depletion of muscle and plasma BCAAs is normal. And that depletion of muscle and plasma BCAAs may lead to increase in Trp uptake by brain and release of serotonin. Serotonin on the other hand leads to central fatigue. So, supplementation of BCAAs to vigorously working person may be beneficial for their performance and body maintenance.

[TheFugitive]

I seem to be doing fine without a BCAA supplement. With adequate protein intake a BCAA supplement isn't needed for me.

The question is, could you be doing better with one?

[compan]

Why is this so painful

[TheFugitive]

Why is this so painful

Obviously not painful enough

[TheFugitive]

For metabolism, AAs are needed to be transported into the cell. Like glucose, AAs are also transported to the cell via special carrier mediated pathway. Inside the cell, transamination reaction of BCAAs gives rise to keto acids, specific to each AA. The keto acids further undergo oxidative decarboxylation to produce acyl-CoA derivatives and enter TCA cycle. The enzyme (activity) responsible for BCAA metabolism is found mostly in SK muscle, heart, and kidney but to lesser extent in liver.

In muscle, BCAAs not only provide nonspecific carbon source of oxidation for production of energy but also act as a precursor for muscle protein synthesis. BCAAs are more energy efficient than glucose. For example, complete oxidation of leucine in muscle produces more energy than complete oxidation of glucose in the form of ATP. Oxidation of BCAAs increases under various physiological conditions to meet the energy demand including the demand at starvation. It is also observed that BCAAs regulate the turnover of protein in muscles by inhibiting protein degradation and enhancing protein synthesis. Several metabolic and clinical conditions, such as starvation, surgery, trauma, sepsis, liver disease, and cancer, lead to protein loss especially muscle protein and supplementation of BCAAs promotes protein synthesis and reduces break down as well as improving those conditions. There is an increasing demand for AAs, alanine, and glutamine in those clinical conditions and they can be synthesized in SK muscle from BCAAs oxidation. So, BCAAs can cover the elevated demands for alanine and glutamine by the body during those clinical conditions.

[VaughnTrue]

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels. Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the “loser,” and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round. I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world. Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment. When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3×5 card reading, “Please use this M&M for breeding purposes.” This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this “grant money.” I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion. There can be only one.

[compan]

Obviously not painful enough

Well I spend more time in the R&P section than I do here now, so that should tell you plenty.

[Garage Rat]

What did guys like Arnold do before there were BCAA's?
Oh he ate a lot protein from several sources.

[lucia316]

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels. Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the “loser,” and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round. I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world. Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment. When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3×5 card reading, “Please use this M&M for breeding purposes.” This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this “grant money.” I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion. There can be only one.

Pft...they have weaknesses because they clearly did not use their BCAAs. Just try it Mars.

[compan]

What did guys like Arnold do before there were BCAA's?
Oh he ate a lot protein from several sources.

Well the difference between Arnold and Ronnie was really the introduction of BCAAs to the market.

[OT2000]

Well the difference between Arnold and Ronnie was really the introduction of BCAAs to the market.

Dem some strong amigos

[compan]

Dem some strong amigos

Aminos*

Agreed. Science still doesn't even understand them yet. That is how strong they are.

[OT2000]

Aminos*

No I meant, amigos. Best amigos ever. Strong amigos too

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...53&pagenumber=

[dougefresh93]

No I meant, amigos. Best amigos ever. Strong amigos too

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...53&pagenumber=

down to a PRE, a shaker and expired multi

[TheFugitive]

Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels. Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the “loser,” and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round. I have found that, in general, the brown and red M&Ms are tougher, and the newer blue ones are genetically inferior. I have hypothesized that the blue M&Ms as a race cannot survive long in the intense theater of competition that is the modern candy and snack-food world. Occasionally I will get a mutation, a candy that is misshapen, or pointier, or flatter than the rest. Almost invariably this proves to be a weakness, but on very rare occasions it gives the candy extra strength. In this way, the species continues to adapt to its environment. When I reach the end of the pack, I am left with one M&M, the strongest of the herd. Since it would make no sense to eat this one as well, I pack it neatly in an envelope and send it to M&M Mars, A Division of Mars, Inc., Hackettstown, NJ 17840-1503 U.S.A., along with a 3×5 card reading, “Please use this M&M for breeding purposes.” This week they wrote back to thank me, and sent me a coupon for a free 1/2 pound bag of plain M&Ms. I consider this “grant money.” I have set aside the weekend for a grand tournament. From a field of hundreds, we will discover the True Champion. There can be only one.

Vaughn figured out which colors are coated with BCAAs

[ILPump]

Fug, are there studies attached to these articles?

[ILPump]

What did guys like Arnold do before there were BCAA's?
Oh he ate a lot protein from several sources.

It wasn’t steak and potatoes.

[eatyourspinach]

Never trust a rat, but what the hell....

BCAAs may also play important roles in brain function. BCAAs may influence brain protein synthesis and production of energy and may influence synthesis of different neurotransmitters, that is, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and so forth, directly or indirectly. Major portion of dietary BCAAs is not metabolized by liver and comes into systemic circulation after a meal. BCAAs and aromatic AA, such as tryptophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr), and phenylalanine (Phe), share the same transporter protein to transport into brain. Trp is the precursor of neurotransmitter serotonin; Tyr and Phe are precursors of catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine). When plasma concentration of BCAAs increases, the brain absorption of BCAAs also increases with subsequent reduction of aromatic AA absorption. That may lead to decrease in synthesis of these related neurotransmitters. Catecholamines are important in lowering blood pressure. When hypertensive rats were injected with Tyr, their blood pressure dropped markedly and injection with equimolar amount of valine blocks that action. In vigorous working persons, such as in athletes, depletion of muscle and plasma BCAAs is normal. And that depletion of muscle and plasma BCAAs may lead to increase in Trp uptake by brain and release of serotonin. Serotonin on the other hand leads to central fatigue. So, supplementation of BCAAs to vigorously working person may be beneficial for their performance and body maintenance.

What?

"The ingestion of large neutral amino acids (LNAA), notably tryptophan, tyrosine and the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), modifies tryptophan and tyrosine uptake into brain and their conversion to serotonin and catecholamines, respectively. The particular effect reflects the competitive nature of the transporter for LNAA at the blood-brain barrier. For example, raising blood tryptophan or tyrosine levels raises their uptake into brain, while raising blood BCAA levels lowers tryptophan and tyrosine uptake; serotonin and catecholamine synthesis in brain parallel the tryptophan and tyrosine changes. By changing blood LNAA levels, the ingestion of particular proteins causes surprisingly large variations in brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis, with minimal effects on tyrosine uptake and catecholamine synthesis. Such variations elicit predictable effects on mood, cognition and hormone secretion (prolactin, cortisol). The ingestion of mixtures of LNAA, particularly BCAA, lowers brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis. Though argued to improve physical performance by reducing serotonin function, such effects are generally considered modest at best. However, BCAA ingestion also lowers tyrosine uptake, and dopamine synthesis in brain. Increasing dopamine function in brain improves performance, suggesting that BCAA may fail to increase performance because dopamine is reduced."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22677921

[TheFugitive]

What?

"The ingestion of large neutral amino acids (LNAA), notably tryptophan, tyrosine and the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), modifies tryptophan and tyrosine uptake into brain and their conversion to serotonin and catecholamines, respectively. The particular effect reflects the competitive nature of the transporter for LNAA at the blood-brain barrier. For example, raising blood tryptophan or tyrosine levels raises their uptake into brain, while raising blood BCAA levels lowers tryptophan and tyrosine uptake; serotonin and catecholamine synthesis in brain parallel the tryptophan and tyrosine changes. By changing blood LNAA levels, the ingestion of particular proteins causes surprisingly large variations in brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis, with minimal effects on tyrosine uptake and catecholamine synthesis. Such variations elicit predictable effects on mood, cognition and hormone secretion (prolactin, cortisol). The ingestion of mixtures of LNAA, particularly BCAA, lowers brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis. Though argued to improve physical performance by reducing serotonin function, such effects are generally considered modest at best. However, BCAA ingestion also lowers tyrosine uptake, and dopamine synthesis in brain. Increasing dopamine function in brain improves performance, suggesting that BCAA may fail to increase performance because dopamine is reduced."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22677921

You can find just about anything you want if you search hard enough

[TheFugitive]

Fug, are there studies attached to these articles?

You interested in studies?