There are three Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCCAs). The three BCAAs are: leucine, isoleucine, and valine.
The BCAAs are essential amino acids for humans that the body cannot synthesize on its own and therefore must get adequate amounts through dietary sources.
Branched-chain amino acids are used to treat several medical conditions, and are also used to help slow muscle wasting in people who are confined to bed.
Some people use branched-chain amino acids to prevent fatigue and improve concentration. Athletes use branched-chain amino acids to improve exercise performance and reduce protein and muscle breakdown during intense exercise, and its glycogen sparing effect is supposed to allow for faster recovery times.
Healthcare providers give branched-chain amino acids intravenously (by IV) for sudden brain swelling due to liver disease (acute hepatic encephalopathy) and also when the body has been under extreme stress, for example after serious injury or widespread infection.
