Index
They are usually found in legumes, dairy, and meat. These include valine, isoleucine, and leucine.
Branched-chain amino acids are essential nutrients that the body gets from proteins found in food.
These amino acids are called ” branched-chain ” or “branched amino acids” because of their chemical structure. People use branched-chain amino acids as medicine.
Branched-chain amino acids are used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain conditions due to liver disease (chronic or latent hepatic encephalopathy), and a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, a genetic disease called McArdle’s disease.
They also treat spinocerebellar degeneration and poor appetite in older people with kidney failure and cancer patients.
Branched-chain amino acids also help decrease muscle wasting in people confined to bed.
Some people take branched-chain amino acids to increase their ability to concentrate and prevent fatigue or tiredness.
Athletes use branched-chain amino acids to improve performance and reduce protein and muscle breakdown during intense exercise.
These are administered intravenously by healthcare providers, branched-chain amino acids for when the body has suffered a severe injury or a widespread infection.
It is also given intravenously to treat sudden brain swelling caused by acute hepatic encephalopathy.
How does it work?
These branched-chain amino acids minimize breakdown in muscles and contribute to muscle protein production.
Branched-chain amino acids may prevent faulty message transmission in brain cells of patients with mania, tardive dyskinesia, anorexia, and advanced liver disease.
Applications
Anorexia
Taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth appears to reduce anorexia and improve overall nutrition in older and malnourished people.
There is also early evidence that taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth might be helpful for people with anorexia that is associated with cancer or liver disease.
Poor brain function related to liver disease
Although there are some conflicting results, most research suggests that taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth can improve liver and brain function in people with poor brain function caused by liver disease.
Mania
Drinking a drink that contains the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine appears to reduce the symptoms of mania.
Muscle breakdown
Taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth appears to reduce muscle breakdown during exercise.
Movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.
Taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth reduces symptoms of a muscle disorder called tardive dyskinesia.
Effectiveness
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Early studies showed promising results, but more recent studies show no benefit from branched-chain amino acids in people with ALS.
Taking branched-chain amino acids could worsen lung function and increase the risk of death in people with this condition.
Liver disease caused by alcohol
Early research suggests that taking branched-chain amino acids daily along with a controlled diet does not reduce the risk of death in people with liver disease caused by alcohol consumption.
Athletic performance
There is inconsistent evidence on the effectiveness of branched-chain amino acids for athletic performance.
Many studies suggest that taking branched-chain amino acids does not improve an athlete’s exercise or sports performance. However, other research suggests that it may reduce fatigue and muscle pain associated with exercise.
Diabetes
Early research suggests that eating carbohydrates with an amino acid/protein mix might improve insulin response in people with diabetes. However, it is not known whether taking branched-chain amino acids as a supplement will provide the same benefits.
Liver cancer
Research suggests that drinking a beverage containing branched-chain amino acids daily for one year does not improve survival after surgical removal of liver cancer.
Hepatic cirrhosis
It is unclear whether branched-chain amino acids benefit people with cirrhosis of the liver, the end-stage of long-term liver disease. Early research suggests that branched-chain amino acids provide no benefit.
However, some research suggests that branched-chain amino acids might improve the quality of life in people with liver cirrhosis.
A genetic disorder that increases phenylalanine in the blood (phenylketonuria)
Taking branched-chain amino acids for up to 6 months improves attention in children with phenylketonuria.
Spinocerebellar degeneration disease of the spine (SCD)
There are conflicting results on the effects of branched-chain amino acids in people with a spinal disease called SCD.
Some preliminary research suggests that taking branched-chain amino acids by mouth might improve some SCD symptoms.
However, other research suggests that branched-chain amino acids do not improve muscle control in people with SCD.
It is also not known how effective it is:
- Preventing fatigue
- Improving concentration.
- Prevention of muscle wasting in people confined to bed.
- Treating other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of branched-chain amino acids for these uses.
Side effects and safety
Branched Chain Amino Acids are Possibly Safe when injected intravenously by a healthcare professional.
Branched-chain amino acids are possibly safe when appropriately ingested. Patients have some side effects, such as loss of coordination and fatigue.
Before or during activities where performance depends on motor coordination, such as driving, Branched-chain amino acids should be used cautiously.
Special precautions and warnings
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
There is not enough reliable information on the safety of taking branched-chain amino acids if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Stay safe and avoid use.
Kids
These amino acids are possibly safe for children when consumed short-term and orally. Branched-chain amino acids have been used safely in children for over six months.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
When used in ALS patients, the use of branched-chain amino acids has been linked to lung failure and higher mortality rates. Don’t use branched-chain amino acids if you have ALS until more is known.
Branched-chain ketoaciduria
Increasing the consumption of branched-chain amino acids could lead to severe mental and physical retardation and seizures. Do not use branched-chain amino acids if you have this condition.
Chronic alcoholism
Dietary use of branched-chain amino acids in alcoholics has been associated with liver disease leading to brain damage (hepatic encephalopathy).
Low blood sugar in babies
Taking one of the branched-chain amino acids, leucine has been reported to lower blood sugar in babies with idiopathic hypoglycemia.
This term means low blood sugar, but the cause is unknown.
Surgery
If branched-chain amino acids are consumed, there could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery, as these can affect blood sugar levels.
Stop using branched-chain amino acids at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate interaction
Be careful with the following combinations:
Levodopa interacts with branched-chain amino acids.
Branched-chain amino acids can decrease the amount of levodopa that the body absorbs.
By decreasing the amount of levodopa that the body absorbs, branched-chain amino acids can reduce the effectiveness of levodopa. Do not take branched-chain amino acids and levodopa at the same time.
Medications for diabetes (antidiabetic medications) interact with branched-chain amino acids.
Branched-chain amino acids can lower blood sugar. Medications for diabetes are also used to lower blood sugar.
Taking branched-chain amino acids and diabetes medications can drop your blood sugar too low.
Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medicine may need to be changed.
Some medications used for diabetes include : glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.
Minor interaction
Be on the lookout for the following combinations.
Diazoxide (Hyperstat, Proglycem) interacts with branched-chain amino acids.
Branched-chain amino acids are used to help make protein in the body. Taking diazoxide and branched-chain amino acids might decrease the effects of branched-chain amino acids on proteins. More information is needed on this interaction.
Medications for inflammation (corticosteroids) interact with branched-chain amino acids.
Branched-chain amino acids are used to help make protein in the body.
Taking medications called glucocorticoids and branched-chain amino acids might decrease the effects of branched-chain amino acids on protein. More information is needed on this interaction.
Thyroid hormone interacts with branched-chain amino acids
Branched-chain amino acids help the body make protein.
Some thyroid hormone medications can decrease the body’s rate of breaking down branched-chain amino acids. However, more information is needed to know the meaning of this interaction.
Dosage
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
Orally:
- For a brain condition due to liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy): 240 mg/kg/day up to 25 grams of branched-chain amino acids.
- For mania: a 60-gram branched-chain amino acid drink containing valine, isoleucine, and leucine in a ratio of 3: 3: 4 every morning for seven days.
- For tardive dyskinesia: a branched-chain amino acid drink containing valine, isoleucine, and leucine at a dose of 222 mg/kg is taken three times a day for three weeks.
- For anorexia and improvement of general nutrition in elderly malnourished hemodialysis patients: branched-chain amino acid granules consisting of valine, leucine, and isoleucine in a dose of 4 grams taken three times a day.
The estimated average requirement (EAR) for branched-chain amino acids is 68 mg / kg / day (leucine 34 mg, isoleucine 15 mg, valine 19 mg) for adults.
However, some researchers think that previous test methods may have underestimated this requirement and that the condition is actually around 144 mg/kg/day.
