EAA - Есенциални аминокиселини

EAA (Essential Amino Acids) are a complex of 9 amino acids that the body cannot synthesize and must obtain from food or supplements: leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and histidine.

Unlike BCAAs (only 3 amino acids), EAAs provide the full spectrum for complete muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Studies show that 10g of EAA stimulate MPS more than 30g of BCAA.

What are EAAs?

EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) are 9 amino acids that the body cannot synthesize on its own and must be obtained through food or supplements: leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and histidine. These 9 amino acids are the building blocks for every protein in the body — from muscles to neurotransmitters.

EAA vs. BCAA — which is better?

BCAAs contain only 3 of these 9 amino acids. For many years, they were advertised as the "optimal solution" for muscles, but modern research (Jackman et al., 2017; Wilkinson et al., 2018) shows that BCAAs alone CANNOT initiate complete muscle protein synthesis because the other 6 essential amino acids are missing. 10g of EAA stimulate MPS more than 30g of BCAA — which is why EAAs are gradually replacing BCAAs in professional sports.

When and how to take EAAs?

The recommended dose is 10–15g per serving, with a minimum of 3g of leucine — the threshold for activating the mTOR signaling pathway.

Who are EAAs suitable for?

EAAs are especially beneficial for athletes on a low-calorie diet (cutting), for fasted training, vegetarians and vegans with limited animal sources, as well as for people over 50 years old, for whom anabolic resistance requires a higher intake of leucine to initiate MPS.