Amino Acid Complex

[Relentless]

Is there any value to taking an Amino Acid Complex to help with training/building muscle?

I seem to remember some dude at my high school, back in the day, who was slamming herds of aminos down daily . . .

The stuff I was looking at has in each cap:
205mg Glutamic Acid
51 mg Serine
65mg Aspartic Acid
49mg Phenylalanine
12 mg Tryptophan
40mg L-Threonine
51mg Isoleucine
28mg Methionine
36mg Arginine
65mg Valine
29mg Alanine
75mg Lysine
94 mg Proline
17mg Glycine
31 mg Histidine
54 mg Tryosine
94 mg Leucine

as well as 500mg of hydrolyzed Casein (a stabilizer?)

Anyway, are aminos a waste of time/money? Or can they help?

[raniali]

The aminos were a big fad a few years ago...then they died out...now they are back. I used to take oodles of them a few years ago with no noticeable difference. So I stopped spending the money since they aren't cheap. Recently (as in last week) talking with a knowledgeable friend of mine - the current thought is that aminos are an excellent supplement but must be taken DURING training while blood is flowing to the muscles. I ordered a powdered version of BCAAs yesterday and will be conducting my own experiments as soon as I get it to determine whether the amino acid fad needs to die once and for all.

[Tiare]

They do a great job of making your urine and feces stink up the bathroom. That's what I remember about them from the late 80's.

[David]

$ave your money.

Meat and dairy protein sources contain a full range of amino acids, including BCAAs (Branced-chain amino acids). If you're eating 1gram of protein per pound of bodyweight, all your amino needs are very likely being met through your diet.

The only aminos you might want to supplement with are: glutamine, creatine, and BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine and valine). The body cant make these, you must get these only through your diet.

Also, most protein shakes already contain BCAAs, so there no need to buy them alone.