Function of the individual BCAA
The three most important amino acids in sports are leucine, isoleucine and valine. Leucine ensures that new cells are built up in the muscles and is thus also generally involved in growth processes in the body. Since growth processes also have an effect on regeneration, leucine can also have a positive effect here.
Bones, ligaments, tendons and muscle tissue benefit. In addition, leucine ensures an increased release of insulin, which in turn can transport more leucine into the muscle. Furthermore, leucine reduces the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which protects the organism and the muscles.
In addition to the absorption of more leucine, other amino acids are also “channelled” into the organism. Leucine thus functions similarly as a door opener for further BCAAs. Isoleucine is mainly responsible for the formation of new haemoglobin.
This is the red blood pigment without which breathing would not be possible. Haemoglobin is, among other things, responsible for oxygen transport in the body. Isoleucine also ensures a balanced energy and sugar balance.
It stabilizes the blood sugar level and controls the energy balance in the body. Valine is the third amino acid we are talking about. Like leucine, valine is also responsible for a wide variety of growth processes in the body.
It provides a stimulating effect in the body when needed and can be processed into energy when needed. For sports, these amino acids can be used primarily for the provision of energy. During sporting activity the body, especially the muscles, needs a lot of energy.
This is produced by the breakdown of leucine in the muscles. By taking BCAAs, other amino acids provide further energy. The correct dosage of BCAA depends on the sporting activity and other factors such as weight and size.
The muscles are protected by the intake, because otherwise the organism would try to use the body’s own protein for energy production. Another benefit for sports is the increased formation of haemoglobin, which allows the body to be supplied with more oxygen more quickly. Also the regeneration ability is improved by the BCAAs.
However, BCAAs are not only used in sports as nutritional supplements. They are also used more and more often in medicine. Studies could find out that patients with peritonitis reacted very positively to supplementation with BCAAs.
These positive effects can clearly be attributed to the intake of BCAAs. In case of head injuries such as concussion or trauma, BCAAs can help to support the healing of the nerve cells. The “stress level” for the nerve cells is reduced by the breakdown of nitrogen in the brain, which can also have a positive effect on the patient’s cognitive performance.
BCAAs are also used in the treatment of diabetes and insulin diseases. However, the study situation for these areas has not yet reached a conclusive result. It has been suggested that taking BCAAs reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
Further educational work must be done in this area until reliable results are available. In liver diseases BCAAs can be used for successful treatments. Symptoms can decrease, especially the liver fat is partially broken down and oxygen supply to the diseased areas is improved.
