Compare every HICA product across UK retailers on Suppio, ranked by true value - price per active dose, not pack size. Prices refreshed daily.
Leucine metabolite (alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid) used for muscle recovery
We rank HICA 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.
HICA is a substance known as alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid. It is a metabolite, which is a byproduct created when the body breaks down leucine, one of the essential amino acids that serve as the building blocks for proteins.
It is primarily used to support muscle recovery. By helping the body repair muscle tissue, it is intended to reduce the breakdown of muscle proteins after intense exercise.
To create the supplement, manufacturers use a chemical process to convert leucine into the HICA form. This resulting powder is then measured and packed into capsules or mixed into powders for sale.
This ingredient sits in a mid-range price bracket. This is because the process of converting the base amino acid into a specific metabolite is more complex than producing standard protein powders, though it is not as rare or expensive to source as some specialised pharmaceutical compounds.
| Purpose | Typical studied dose | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| increase of lean body mass | 1.5 grams per day | emerging |
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.
Leucine metabolite (alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid) used for muscle recovery
We rank HICA 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.
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.