BCAA

Compare every BCAA product across UK retailers on Suppio, ranked by true value - price per active dose, not pack size. Prices refreshed daily.

Branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) for muscle support

We rank BCAA by price per gram of active ingredient - not by pack size - so a bigger tub with a worse price per dose can't outrank a smaller one that's actually cheaper.

What it is

BCAA stands for branched-chain amino acids. These are a group of three specific essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein that the body cannot make on its own and must get from food or supplements. The three amino acids included are leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Why it's used

These supplements are primarily used for muscle support. They are often taken by people who exercise to help protect muscle tissue from breaking down and to support the process of muscle repair.

How it's made

To create the supplement, the three amino acids are produced through a process called fermentation, where bacteria are used to create the specific molecules. These are then purified and dried into a powder. This powder is then either put into capsules or mixed with flavourings to be sold as a drink mix.

What it typically costs

The cost of these supplements is generally mid-range. This is because the fermentation process used to create the amino acids is a standard industrial method, but the need to source and balance three different specific amino acids makes it slightly more complex than producing a single-ingredient supplement.

Dosage by purpose

PurposeTypical studied doseEvidence
stimulate muscle protein synthesis, reduce muscle protein breakdown, exercise induced muscle damage and fatigue77 milligrams per kilogram to 3 grams per kilogramemerging
increase muscle mass and fat-free body mass100 milligrams per kilogram bodyweightlimited
reduce markers of muscle damage, attenuate delayed-onset muscle soreness and preserve maximal voluntary contraction20 grams per dayestablished
enhance strength and preserve lean mass5 grams per day to 28 grams per dayestablished
maintain lean body mass and preserve bench press 1RM under caloric restriction9 grams per dayestablished
reduce muscle soreness and improve isometric strength recovery10 grams per dayestablished
reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery for ultra-marathon runners5 to 10 grams per daylimited
decrease muscle damage markers for triathletes15 grams per dayestablished
improve recovery and reduce fatigue for swimmers18 to 20 grams per daylimited
improve endurance and reduce fatigue for cyclists84 milligrams per kilogramestablished
maintaining positive nitrogen balance following traumatic brain injuryintravenous infusion of BCAA-enriched formulalimited
  1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12674588 (PubMed)
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12530991 (PubMed)
  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12029984 (PubMed)
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209312 (PubMed)

How Suppio ranks

Suppio matches identical products across UK retailers by barcode, then ranks by price per active dose rather than sticker price. Value rankings only ever include listings Suppio has independently verified against the live retailer page - unverified data is shown on each product’s own page but excluded from ranking.

Prices across our retailer network are refreshed at least daily.

FAQ

What is BCAA?

Branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine) for muscle support

How does Suppio calculate the best-value BCAA?

We rank BCAA by price per gram of active ingredient - not by pack size - so a bigger tub with a worse price per dose can't outrank a smaller one that's actually cheaper.

Are these prices verified?

Suppio matches identical products across UK retailers by barcode, then ranks by price per active dose rather than sticker price. Value rankings only ever include listings Suppio has independently verified against the live retailer page - unverified data is shown on each product’s own page but excluded from ranking.

How often are BCAA prices updated?

Prices across our retailer network are refreshed at least daily.

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