Download Branched Chain Amino Acid

The Impact of Branched
Chain Amino Acids
in the Diet and in Exercise
By: Kyle Sell
What Are They?
•  Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and there
are three specific essential amino acids that make up as
much as 33 percent of skeletal muscle.
•  These amino acids are known as the branched chain
amino acids (BCAAs) and they include, valine, leucine
and isoleucine.
•  Valine is necessary for messages from the brain to be
recognized by a cell.
•  Leucine is considered to be the most important amino
acid for muscle growth because it activates complex
muscle building pathways.
•  Isoleucine’s major function is proteinogenesis, it acts as a
building block for the proteins our bodies make.
Why Are They Good For Exercise?
•  The period of time right after your body
exercises, it is in recovery.
•  The longer and more intensive the exercise, the
longer it will take for your body to regain its
strength.
•  BCAAs (especially leucine) have increased
anabolic effects on the rate of protein synthesis
in resting muscle. As well as a decrease in
protein degeneration.
•  Studies have shown that in the period of
recovery time after exercise, BCAAs activate the
enzyme kinase.
•  Kinase is important for phosphorylation which
helps our bodies store energy for a later use.