BCAA’s The Elixir of Life?

BCAA’sThe Elixir of Life?

Supplements to enhance sport performance in the form of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) is now an industry worth many millions of dollars. And there is a solid scientific basis underpinning the performance claims that are made for them.

They are probably one of the most overlooked and most effective supplements for anyone who wants or needs to build up muscle and increase sporting or physical performance or simply to help lessen muscle breakdown during intense exercise.  They can also offer an advantage to older people where muscle atrophy can be delayed with the use of Amino acids that are central to promoting muscle growth. Thirty Five per cent of our muscles are made up of BCAAs and they have to be present to allow muscles to grow and retain water. 

A recent study that showed the remarkable affect that BCAA had had on laboratory mice, not only in extending their lives but in making their motor skills and other elements of their performance much better.

The article prompted headlines at that time in the Daily Mail claiming that these Body builder protein powders 'could increase life expectancy by 10 years' and the debate about the properties of BCAA has never been far from the news since that time.  Often referred to as the Elixir of life, in powder form it could be sprinkled on porridge or stirred into a milky drink, it has the capacity to strengthen weak and worn muscle, which in turn will help to lessen the risk of fractures or painful tumbles in later years. Another benefit derived from the supplement, when it is taken in later years, is the energy boost that it could give to people suffering from breathing and respiratory symptoms as well as heart problems.  Researcher Enzo Nisoli who conducted the study and whose work was reported in the Daily Mail article said that he thought that the data they had produced could be seen as an indication that it was advisable for older people to take the supplement.  Professor Nisoli, who is from Brescia University, gave mice considered to be 'middle-aged' amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine with their water. The mice that had been given the supplement lived, on average, eighty days longer than mice that had had not be given the supplement.  This, if converted to human terms would mean adding almost another ten years to the average lifespan of a British male with the extra life expectancy for women being slightly more.

There has been a lot of study on BCAAs and one study that was reported in the Examiner concluded that some of the latest findings had been helpful in providing extra evidence to support diets higher in protein. In particular whey protein and other forms of BCAAs seem advantageous as part of an overall healthy lifestyle that might also be useful in losing excess fat and in dieting.

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Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

aminoacidguru.org

http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131%2810%2900304-9 http://www.examiner.com/article/new-studies-show-bcaa-s-pivotal-dieting-and-fat-loss