BCAAs

Compare every BCAAs 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 BCAAs 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

BCAAs are branched-chain amino acids, which are the building blocks used by the body to create proteins. This specific group consists of three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are called essential because the body cannot produce them on its own, meaning they must be obtained through food or supplements.

Why it's used

These amino acids are primarily used to support muscle health. They are often taken to help reduce muscle soreness and prevent the breakdown of muscle tissue during intense exercise.

How it's made

To create these supplements, the specific amino acids are typically extracted from protein sources through a process called fermentation. This involves using microorganisms to produce the amino acids in large tanks. Once produced, the substances are purified and dried into a powder, which is then either sold as is or put into capsules.

What it typically costs

BCAAs generally fall into a mid-range price category. This is because while the raw materials are not excessively rare, the industrial fermentation and purification processes required to isolate the three specific amino acids add to the production cost.

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
reduce markers of muscle damage, attenuate delayed-onset muscle soreness and preserve maximal voluntary contraction20 grams per dayemerging
reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery5 to 10 grams per daylimited
decrease muscle damage markers15 grams per dayemerging
improve recovery and reduce fatigue18 to 20 grams per daylimited
improve endurance and reduce fatigue during sessions84 milligrams per kilogramemerging
maintaining positive nitrogen balance following traumatic brain injuryintravenous infusion of BCAA-enriched formula (leucine 154 percent, isoleucine 153 percent, and valine 174 percent of standard formula)limited
  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 BCAAs?

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

How does Suppio calculate the best-value BCAAs?

We rank BCAAs 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 BCAAs prices updated?

Prices across our retailer network are refreshed at least daily.

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