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EAAs / BCAAsEvidence & Dosage

Muscle protein synthesis, anti-catabolic, and leucine threshold.

Studies last updated

Evidence at a glance

Total studies
1,000
With abstract
50
Meta / Systematic / RCT
97
Highly cited
50
Publication years
1985–2026

EAAs / BCAAs in the context of Performance

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Top studies on EAAs / BCAAs

Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.

  1. Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

    Nutr Rev2021n=15meta177 influential citations

    CONTEXT: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed…

  2. An oral essential amino acid-carbohydrate supplement enhances muscle protein anabolism after resistance exercise.

    Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)2000107 influential citations

    This study was designed to determine the response of muscle protein to the bolus ingestion of a drink containing essential amino acids and carbohydrate after resistance exercise. Six subjects (3 men, 3 women) randomly consumed a treatment…

  3. Histidine: A Systematic Review on Metabolism and Physiological Effects in Human and Different Animal Species.

    Nutrients2020n=113Systematic Review99 influential citations

    Histidine is an essential amino acid (EAA) in mammals, fish, and poultry. We aim to give an overview of the metabolism and physiological effects of histidine in humans and different animal species through a systematic review following the…

  4. Attenuating Muscle Damage Biomarkers and Muscle Soreness After an Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage with Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Meta-regression.

    Sports Med Open2024n=18Systematic Review90 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is one of the most popular strategies used by the general population and athletes to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate the recovery process of muscle damage biomarkers…

  5. Essential amino acid and carbohydrate supplementation ameliorates muscle protein loss in humans during 28 days bedrest.

    The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism200476 influential citations

    We determined whether essential amino acid and carbohydrate supplementation could offset the catabolic response to prolonged inactivity. Major outcome measures included mixed muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR), phenylalanine net…

  6. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy rewires glucose metabolism: An experimental investigation and systematic review.

    J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle2024n=450Systematic Review65 influential citations

    <h4>Background</h4>Proliferating cancer cells shift their metabolism towards glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to especially generate glycolytic intermediates as substrates for anabolic reactions. We hypothesize that a similar…

  7. Effects of branched-chain amino acid-rich supplementation on EWGSOP2 criteria for sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    Eur J Nutr2022n=35Meta-Analysis62 influential citations

    <h4>Purpose</h4>According to criteria recommended by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2), we analyzed the effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-rich supplements on muscle strength, muscle mass, and…

    Finding: Essential amino acid supplementation improved handgrip strength more significantly than whey protein supplementation in older people.

  8. The Relationship between Branched-Chain Amino Acid Related Metabolomic Signature and Insulin Resistance: A Systematic Review.

    J Diabetes Res2016n=20,091Systematic Review57 influential citations

    Recent studies have shown the positive association between increased circulating BCAAs (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) and insulin resistance (IR) in obese or diabetic patients. However, results seem to be controversial in different…

  9. Dynamic changes in metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease: A systematic Review and meta-analysis.

    Front Immunol2022n=689Meta-Analysis57 influential citations

    Background Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential amino acid that must be provided in the diet. The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main route of TRP catabolism into nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD + ), and metabolites of this pathway…

  10. Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature.

    J Strength Cond Res2020systematic55 influential citations

    Gonzalez, AM and Trexler, ET. Effects of citrulline supplementation on exercise performance in humans: A review of the current literature. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1480-1495, 2020-L-citrulline, a nonessential amino acid found primarily…

Frequently asked

What dosage was studied?
• Nutritional supplementation interventions: proteins, essential amino acids, leucine, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, creatine, and multinutrient supplementation, with or without physical exercise • Histidine supplementation / dietary histidine (not reported)
Which population does the evidence apply to?
Most studies investigated: unknown.
Are there safety considerations for EAAs / BCAAs?
• Not reported in the abstract. • Excess histidine may cause eating and memory disorders in humans. • Excess histidine may induce growth retardation in most species. • Excess histidine may cause metabolic dysfunction in most species.

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