This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through these links. See my full disclosure here.
Kaged Muscle is a rather popular brand in the bodybuilding world, selling a variety of supplements from protein powders to creatines and fat burners. It’s already a very established and trustworthy brand among bodybuilding aficionados.
One of the first supplements they launched was their BCAA, which is also among their best-selling products, partly the reason we’ve decided to give this supplement a look.
Kaged Muscle claims that their BCAAs can take your training to the next level by improving muscle recovery and reducing soreness, so we want to know if that is true. Another reason we’ve decided to review this supplement is that it’s 100% vegan, so it might be a great fit for our readers!
Main Takeaways
- Kaged Muscle’s BCAA formula is composed of the essential amino acids L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine in the common 2:1:1 ratio, without any artificial ingredients or fillers. This purity can be an advantage for those looking to avoid additional additives.
- L-Leucine, a component of the BCAA formula, has been shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, especially in individuals with lower dietary protein intake or in the elderly. For those who already consume sufficient levels of protein, especially the younger population, the impact of BCAAs on muscle gains may not be significant.
- There is mixed evidence regarding the effect of BCAAs on muscle recovery and fatigue reduction. Some studies suggest potential benefits, while others do not find significant effects unless very high dosages are taken. This indicates that the supplement may be more useful in very specific circumstances.
- At $0.41 per serving, Kaged Muscle’s BCAA is reasonably priced compared to other brands. However, considering the potentially limited benefits for those with an adequate protein intake, it may not be necessary for everyone.
Kaged Muscle’s BCAAs Overview
Kaged Muscle’s BCAA formula contains the standard 2:1:1 ratio of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-Valine, as well as the usual 5 grams of branched-chained amino acids per serving.
So, there is 2,500g of L-leucine, 1,250g of L-isoleucine, and 1,250g of L-valine, which is typically what most people seek whenever they’re looking to buy a BCAA supplement.
So, is there anything different about this formula when compared to others? Well, it’s a very clean formula with no ingredients besides the actual amino acids. Many BCAA formulas contain artificial ingredients and fillers that taint their purity, but this supplement is pure, in comparison.
Other than that, this supplement is pretty much similar to many other supplements on the market.
A much more pressing and interesting question is whether or not BCAAs, in general, are effective at increasing muscle gain and improving recovery.
What Does Science Say About BCAAs?
As we’ve mentioned previously, Kaged Muscle contains L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, which are delivered in a 2:1:1 ratio, a ratio that many people claim it’s the most scientifically studied ratio.
However, to understand if BCAAs are actually necessary as supplement companies claim, we have to look at each individual component and actually break down its utility.
L-Leucine (2500g)
L-Leucine is an essential amino acid for protein synthesis and is widely regarded as the primary branched-chain amino acid. According to research, L-leucine activates the protein known as mTOR, which then induces muscle protein synthesis, as well as cell growth and proliferation.
Studies show that adding leucine to a diet or a test meal can reliably increase muscle protein synthesis, however, those results are seen in individuals with lower dietary protein intake and the elderly (who are clearly impaired when it comes to achieving muscle protein synthesis via diet). It is not guaranteed that L-leucine will have a boosting effect on people that already consume adequate levels of protein (and are young).
L-leucine also appears to contain an active metabolite called HMB that reduces muscle breakdown, which is useful even in weight loss diets (where muscle loss also occurs). In studies where L-leucine is associated with muscle growth benefits, the dosages used are between 2,000mg and 4,000mg. Kaged Muscle’s BCAA supplement contains 2,500g per serving, which is within the range, so it’s potentially beneficial.
L-Isoleucine (1250g)
Isoleucine is also one of the three branched-chain amino acids and is associated with glucose consumption and uptake.
According to research, it can increase the amount of glucose used during exercise and is also considered an anti-catabolic agent — helping in the prevention of muscle loss.
Some sources claim that isoleucine helps in the prevention/reduction of muscle damage post-exercise, however, the evidence is quite mixed. A systematic review in 2017, shows that there is no direct evidence of the positive effects of BCAAs on muscle damage, except in very specific conditions, which means taking 200mg of BCAAs per kilogram of body weight daily for a long period of time. 1
This is a lot for any human being weighing more than 25kg, for example, if you weigh 80kg, you would have to consume 16g of BCAAs, which is three or four times the amount contained in any given serving.
With that being said, it may be true that taking L-isoleucine may reduce fatigue. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that an intake of BCAAs resulted in lowered ratings of perceived exertion and mental fatigue during a standardized cycle ergometer exercise.
Apparently, BCAAs decrease the transport of tryptophan to the brain and decrease 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis which, in abundance, are both responsible for central fatigue. 2
L-Valine (1250g)
Another one of the three branched-chain amino acids, valine is purported to provide numerous benefits, including energy enhancement, increased endurance, and muscle tissue recovery & repair.
Additionally, there are also claims that it may lower elevated sugar levels and increase growth hormone production.
A clinical study published in 2017, found that acute oral supplementation of BCAA’s at a concentration of 0.087 g/kg body mass was sufficient to increase the rate of recovery in isometric strength, CMJ height (countermovement jump), and perceived soreness compared to the placebo group. 3
Another clinical study published in 2018 in the scientific journal Bioscience found that acute supplementation of valine leads to a fatigue reduction during swimming exercise in rats. Whether that’s true for human subjects as well is still needs to be studied. 4
How Much Does Kaged Muscle’s BCAA Supplement Cost?
Kaged Muscle’s BCAA supplement costs $29.99, equivalent to $0.41 per serving, which makes it an affordable supplement, especially when compared to other brands like Transparent Brands or Optimum Nutrition.
However, you can make it even cheaper if you stick to their subscription service, which allows you to get a 10% discount, bringing the cost per serving down to $0.37. It’s quite a good price for a reputable brand such as Kaged Muscle.
Are Kaged Muscle’s BCAAs Worth It?
Based on the scientific literature we’ve examined, taking an isolated BCAA supplement is not at all required if you want to improve your muscle gain or recovery.
If you’re someone that already consumes an adequate intake of protein, you don’t have to worry about getting extra BCAAs as you’ll be consuming all the necessary amino acids needed to support protein synthesis.
Our opinion is that instead of acquiring an isolated BCAA supplement, you would benefit greatly from only consuming a protein supplement, as it would guarantee you a high-protein intake and all the necessary amino acids (which are contained within the protein).
With that being said, if you’re still interested in acquiring Kaged Muscle’s BCAA supplement, you can do so through iHerb.
Editor’s note: The content on this website is meant to be informative, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The content of our articles is not intended for use in the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, or trying a new supplement.
References:
1. Vahid I, Abdolali B, Fatemeh M, Alireza N, Mehdi S. The effects of branch-chain amino acids on fatigue in the athletes. Interv Med Appl Sci. 2018.
2. Blomstrand E. A role for branched-chain amino acids in reducing central fatigue. J Nutr. 2006 Feb.
3. Waldron M, Whelan K, Jeffries O, Burt D, Howe L, Patterson SD. The effects of acute branched-chain amino acid supplementation on recovery from a single bout of hypertrophy exercise in resistance-trained athletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017 Jun.
4. Tsuda Y, Iwasawa K, Yamaguchi M. Acute supplementation of valine reduces fatigue during swimming exercise in rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2018 May.
