Leucine and BCAA Structured Peptides

Structured Peptides are absorbed faster, utilized better, and produce 250 percent greater muscle growth than free-form amino acids.

BIOTEST® Leucine and BCAA Structured Peptides are produced from peptide enhanced whey-protein isolate, utilizing a three-step process:

1. – Whey-protein isolate is hydrolyzed into very small peptide forms using a combination of selective enzymes (aminopeptidases and proteases) to break apart targeted leucine peptide and BCAA-peptide bonds.
2. – Afterward, small peptide formations are extracted from the hydrolyzed whey by passing the mixture through a series of filters, ending with nanofiltration.
3. – Next, the nano-mixture undergoes a final reaction phase to further enhance its total leucine and BCAA content.

The end result is a highly refined mixture of leucine and BCAA di- and tripeptides that provides the body with the greatest effects from leucine/ BCAA supplementation.

Di- and Tripeptide Science

* Unlike regular (free-form) amino acids, the uptake of di- and tripeptides is achieved through a very specific, high-capacity intestinal transporter (PEPT-1), which can lead to a larger and more rapid spike in blood levels of these crucial anabolic signals.


Leucine Science

* Most of the anabolic effects of protein are actually the result of a single amino acid – leucine. Only slight elevations in all of the other essential amino acids are necessary for leucine to spark (and maintain) increases in muscle protein synthesis.
* Leucine is the amino-acid "trigger" by which skeletal muscle accrues protein. Specifically, the muscle-building effects of leucine are due to a cascade of cellular reactions including the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), upregulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K1) activity, enhancement of eukaryotic initiation factor-4E binding protein (eIF4E-BP1) phosphorylation, and the association of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)4E with eIF4G. These effects have been shown to occur both in vitro and in humans.
* Estimates of dietary requirements for leucine range from 1 g to 12 g daily. The amount of leucine necessary to optimize performance and muscle growth is unknown, but recent research in humans points to a plateau effect (at least on muscle protein synthesis) occurring around 3.5 grams per meal.
* As we get older, muscles become less sensitive to the anabolic effects of insulin, protein, and amino acids (including leucine). As a result, peri-workout nutrition becomes more important to maximize our overall health and performance.
* Leucine oxidation by muscle can be reduced by co-ingesting a high-quality carbohydrate, an effect that in theory should increase the anabolic signal to muscle growth.
* Although theoretical at this point in time, key leucine di- and tripeptides may turn out to provide extraordinary muscle-building benefits.


BCAA Science

* The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) consist of the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine.
* BCAA account for approximately 35% of the essential amino acids in muscle.
* In contrast to most essential amino acids that are metabolized in the liver, BCAA are unique because they are metabolized primarily in skeletal muscle. This fact also explains why BCAA are used to help patients with liver failure retain their lean mass. BCAA are also used in the management of tardive dyskinesia, amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), hepatic encephalopathy, and phenylketonuria.
* Numerous studies have demonstrated the anti-catabolic effects of (free form) BCAA administration, i.e., a reduction in muscle protein breakdown during clinical conditions of wasting (e.g., starvation, post-surgery, burns, liver disease, etc.).
* BCAA have been theorized to act as a metabolic fuel during exercise, particularly during intense and/or prolonged physical activity. This effect "spares" muscle glycogen during training, at least when BCAA are taken pre-exercise.
* BCAA also donate nitrogen (via transamination) to non-essential amino acids. This phenomenon explains why not all amino acids are necessary to stimulate protein synthesis.
* Proponents of BCAA supplementation maintain that BCAA may blunt the increase in serotonin, thus reducing perceived effort and mental fatigue during prolonged exercise, and here's why:

BCAA contribute to the synthesis of neurotransmitters. As such, supplementing with BCAA during prolonged exercise could, in theory, increase the mental effort necessary to maintain (or extend) higher performance levels. This conclusion is based on the well-known "Central Fatigue Hypothesis," which suggests that prolonged exercise decreases BCAA and increases fatty acids in circulating blood, resulting in elevated tryptophan levels. And tryptophan is the amino-acid precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that causes feelings of sleepiness and (in excess) depression.
* A few recent studies have shown that men and women who ingest approximately 10 to 15 grams of BCAA per day (comprised of 5-7 g leucine, 3-4 g isoleucine, and 3-4 g valine) for at least four-weeks increase their lean mass more than matched control subjects. This effect appears to be the result of a BCAA-induced increased protein synthesis during the recovery period following resistance exercise.
* Another interesting aspect of BCAA that has only recently been explored is the potential effect on weight loss. During moderate protein intake (1.5 grams/kg of body weight per day) and a lower carbohydrate (100-200 grams/day) diet, an increased intake of BCAA is thought to have positive effects on muscle protein synthesis, insulin signaling, and sparing of glucose use by stimulation of the glucose-alanine cycle. This may lead to more fat loss and a greater sparing of lean tissue compared to a calorically-matched, higher carbohydrate diet.

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