VALINE, LEUCINE, ISOLEUCINE (BRANCHED- CHAIN AMINO ACIDS): Muscle fuel

Meat, eggs, fish and the other protein foods offer us about twenty different amino acids, yet just three of them constitute almost half of our entire daily protein consumption. In this case the ratio isn’t nutritionally unbalanced. The trio’s preponderance points to the importance of all three.

Valine, leucine and isoleucine are the muscle-sparing amino acids. Also known as the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), they preserve our muscles and all other tissue except bones , fat from the constant breakdown that occurs as a natural part of metabolism. Normally the body regenerates these tissue” using amino acids as the building blocks of new protein. But the breakdown often outpaces the repair, such as when we don’t cat enough protein, when we exercise excessively, when we’re under stress, or when we’re sick. The process is especially accelerated when the individual is afflicted with cancer; end-stage kidney failure, AIDS or another so-called wasting disease. BCAA, along with glutamine and medium-chain triglycerides, is considered by progressive surgeons to be important intravenous support for critically ill patients.

All of us stand to benefit from taking branched-chain supplements. For instance, after a group of average, healthy people received a single intravenous infusion of the amino acids, the amount of tissue breakdown that normally occurs overnight decreased by 50 per cent. A daily dosage of 7.5-12 grams per day spared muscles completely for a group of marathoners and cross-country runners.

SUPPLEMENT SUGGESTIONS
Don’t worry about any side effects from keeping more lean tissue than you metabolize. You won’t suddenly possess greater muscle mass, although bodybuilders and weight lifters use branched-chain supplements for this very reason. For the best therapeutic effect, the three nutrients should be taken together, along with L-glutamine, another essential amino acid. Good therapeutic dosages are 4-5 grams of valine, 3-4 grams of leucine, 2-3 grams of isoleucine and 4-6 grams of L-glutamine.