EAAs vs BCAAs: Which Amino Acid Is the Better Choice?

Tyler Sellers
Published by Tyler Sellers | Senior Coach
Last updated: January 27, 2024
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Any athlete spending more time on getting their dietary macros right will inevitably have to address their protein intake.

Supplements are going to play a significant role, but I often hear a lot of confusion at the gym about essential amino acids (EAA) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA).

Do you actually know enough about this topic to make the right decisions on how to support your fitness goals, including muscle growth and muscle repair?

I’ve certainly struggled with this before, so I got my dietitian to help me with this guide.

What Are EAAs?

scoop with brown powder

Essential amino acids (EAA for short) are a set of 9 amino acids that humans have to take in through their diet. They simply cannot be created by your body, so they are essential from a dietary perspective.

From a sports and fitness perspective, some of the more important ones are phenylalanine threonine and tryptophan.

These essential amino acid supplements provide the building blocks for muscle protein synthesis as well as muscle recovery, which is why they are so important to athletes.

​Don’t worry, you won’t have to remember them, just make sure that your protein supplements indicate that they contain all 9 EAAs.

What Are BCAAs?

spoon with brown powder

Branched chain amino acids are a subset of the 9 essential amino acids just mentioned.

There are 3 of them in total known as leucine isoleucine and valine, and these ones are of particular interest for bodybuilders and performance athletes.

The main reason that BCAAs are favored in supplements is that they have been shown to play a key role in repairing damaged muscles, reduce fatigue, and lessen the post-workout soreness [1].

For athletes that train on almost a daily basis, this could make quite a significant difference in how well they may be able to execute their training plans.

I also often get asked about the difference between protein powder and BCAA, which I discussed on a separate page. In short, BCAAs are made of 3 amino acids, while whey contains all 20 aminos.

Supplementing BCAAs prevents a serum decline in BCAAs, which occurs during exercise. A serum decline would normally cause a tryptophan influx into the brain, followed by serotonin production, which causes fatigue.

- Kamal Patel​, Nutrition Researcher & Founder of Examine.com

Other Resources You May Like:

What's The Difference?

dna

This is where I think most discussions about EAAs vs BCAAs are kind of pointless.

In essence, BCAAs are made up of 3 amino acids that are part of the 9 EAAs.

You need all of them, so you should never be arguing for one type of amino acid supplement over another.

The key factor is that these different sets of proteins may be needed at very different times of the day or different types of training as well. To find out the exact difference between the timing of these amino acids, consider asking your nutritionist to maximize their benefits.

To better understand this, let's delve deeper into the role of amino acids in muscle protein synthesis. Essentially, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and thus, critical to muscle tissue repair and muscle growth.

There are 20 amino acids in total, nine of which are considered essential (EAAs), including the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through diet.

On the other hand, the 11 remaining are non-essential amino acids, meaning our bodies can produce them even if we don't get them from our diet.

Both EAAs and non-essential amino acids are necessary for muscle protein synthesis, but the body needs all the amino acids, in the right proportions, for optimal muscle growth and repair.

One popular supplement is whey protein, which is a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids. Whey protein has been shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis effectively and support muscle growth, particularly when consumed after exercise.

However, it's also crucial to remember that the timing and type of amino acid intake can depend on your specific training goals, overall diet, and individual metabolism.

So, while discussing EAAs versus BCAAs might seem moot, understanding the role and timing of these amino acids can help optimize their use for muscle growth and repair. Always consult with a registered dietitian or nutritionist to personalize your nutrition strategy for the best results.

​Watch the video to know more about the difference of the two.

youtube

When Should You Use EAAs?

spoon with powder

All 9 EAA proteins are needed for your body to function normally. But they become a lot more relevant after you have done some intense physical activity.

At this time, muscle protein synthesis needs to kick in for your muscles to recover as well as build up new fibers [2].

It contains all 9 EAA proteins and some of the relevant BCAA ones.

One of the most common products is your standard post-workout whey supplement.

When Should You Use BCAA?

mug with powder

Most of my professional and bodybuilding clients tend to rely on BCAA supplements to support their actual training.

Because it could have quite a positive impact on reducing fatigue, it may help with getting more out of each training session.

In some cases, I have seen people take BCAA halfway through a training session in order to get a boost of BCAA by the time their cooldown happens.

This may help to get just the right amount of BCAAs to kick start protein synthesis.

Some high performance athletes also stack their pre-workout and BCAAs during intense workout sessions. Also, I’ve had several male and female clients who use BCAA vouch for its effects on their workout routine.


References:

  1. ​https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324605
  2. ​https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732256/
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About The Author

Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC
Benedict Ang, CPT, PN1-NC
Staff Writer & Senior Coach
Education: Republic Polytechnic
Lives in: Singapore
Learn more about our editorial policy
Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
Medical Doctor
Education: University of Perpetual Help System, JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine
Lives in: Davao City, Philippines
Learn more about our editorial policy

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