Posts Tagged ‘BCAA’

BCAA again

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Branched-chain amino acids, particularly leucine, can direct stimulate protein synthesis. They also increase the secretion of certain hormones anabolic sig.
All amino acids have the same basic element (circled in the group consisting of R or the side chain (circled in yellow). In the case of branched chain amino acids that resembles a skeleton tree has linked carbon atoms and hydrogen molecules (CH 3), known as methyl group . As you can see, valine side chain is composed of three methyl, while the isoleucine and leucine made up of four such groups. Other amino acids may have a similar branched structure, but they have no methyl.
Among the most popular supplements, branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) play a particularly important role for muscle building . But what exactly are they? Leucine, isoleucine and valine are included in that group because of the presence of amino acid side chains attached to the basic carbon skeleton. They are also deemed necessary because we must provide our bodies with nutrient, since we are unable to synthesise their own.
It is worth mentioning that they can be used as a source of energy for working muscles during prolonged exertion. And what exactly is going on in our human body? Well branched chain amino acids are released mainly from skeletal muscle and their carbon skeletons are used as fuel. At the same time the rest of the nitrogen is processed in another amino acid – alanine. It is then carried to the liver where it is transformed into glucose, which returns back to the skeletal muscle and can be used again as fuel. The so called. glucose-alanine cycle is a mechanism used to maintain homeostasis, in other words, equilibrium constant level of glucose in the blood.

BCAA benefits

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Amino acids are represented by branched or BCAA leucine, isoleucine & valine & make up 35% of the amino acids present in the muscle.
Unlike most other amino acids, BCAA bypasses hepatic metabolism & are directly involved in muscular work, which serve as nitrogen donors for the synthesis of other important amino acids such as glutamine & alanine. In doing so exert an action on anti-catabolic muscle.

BCAA benefits:

  1. Greater stimulation of protein synthesis
  2. Increased muscle strength by the opposition of the way in of free tryptophan in the brain. The latter is an essential amino acid that in the last stages of physical activity, when BCAA are beginning to be used as an energy substrate, enters the brain, where it is converted in to serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that gives the sensation of fatigue (this is a nice reason to take before a workout BCAA)
  3. Limiting the formation of ammonia (a substance poisonous to the tissues that form in the coursework of the exercise, which also prevents protein synthesis).
  4. More energy in the coursework of workouts. This is due to the fact that the oxidation of BCAA in the coursework of their form alanine, which is the most important precursor of gluconeogenesis (formation of new glucose & therefore energy) in the liver, maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Not to mention that the synthesis of glutamine is dependent on the BCAA.
  5. Like steroids, the BCAAs work best when the muscle is in a catabolic state, such as through a low-calorie diet, so the branching can help prevent muscle loss in the coursework of strict diets
  6. greater recovery
  7. Stronger immune system