Many years ago I was introduced to the supplement HMB a metabolite of Leucine. It was a supplement that boasted the ability to help buffer catabolism in muscle. So I invested as it would help with my recovery post workout. I was fairly certain I was doing everything correct, and then a criticism of the supplement came out. It was rat study, and to get affects you would have to mega dose it. So what does any good gym rat do? I took a hand full of 500mg HMB capsules and chased it with water then headed to the gym sadly one of the pills got lodged somewhere between my esophagus and my nasal passage so I managed to get some in my lungs when the gel cap dissolved. Needless to say I was not going to allow my investment go to waste regardless of minor lung irritation. My lifting partner proud of my application of knowledge after he repeated said study I explained the massive dose I had taken. Fast forward a 4 to 5 years, and I finally get around to using branched chain amino acids. Usually found in a 2:1:1 ratio where leucine is the main ingredient the 2 in said ratio. You will also find higher levels of leucine in whey and caseinate protein profiles. The use of leucine as a supplement has a lot of backing in regards to muscle protein synthesis and anti-catabolism.
BCAAs consist of Leucine, isoleucine and valine.
Valine is a globular protein with a hydrophobic property so a main reason BCAAs are hard to mix. Valine’s functions include skeletal muscle growth, repair and can be converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis.
Isoleucine is a isomer of leucine and functions physiologically to help with nitrogenous detox along with healing wounds and other immune stimulating functions.
Leucine as discussed above has properties of anti-catabolism and I have heard it as being the most anabolic of amino acids.
As with all supplements diet has to be in line with your goals, but when supplementing with BCAAs on a deficit studies do point to their ability to help sustain muscle from catabolism and as added benefit to surplus calories anabolism. One of the many reasons BCAAs are included in Stammpede. Stay strong my friends
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Written by,
Jason Kusick