An effective nutritional supplement aid?
ALLMAX Nutrition is a quality nutritional supplement company which carries pretty much every product for the health and fitness-minded individual.
And their AMINOCORE BCAA (branched-chain amino acid) supplement supplies more than enough of the essential nutrients (leucine, valine, and isoleucine) to support your efforts.
Amino acid supplementation has been shown through studies to promote muscle growth, speed up recovery, reduce muscle fatigue and muscle wasting, plus it may be beneficial for people with chronic disease even.
So, we’d say it’s definitely worth the trouble if you’re looking for something which may provide health and performance benefits.
But not all supplements are created equally and that’s why we wanted to review AMINOCORE to see if it measures up.
So, let’s delve a little deeper into this very popular product to see what it’s all about and how it can be beneficial for the active individual. But first, here are the pros and cons in our opinion…
Pros
- Good amount/ratio of BCAAs
- Quality primary ingredients
Cons
- Artificial ingredients (preference-based)
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What Are BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids)
The three branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine) are a part of the nine essential amino acids which our bodies cannot produce on its own.
And we have to get these BCAAs from our diet and/or supplementation.
But BCAAs are contained in dairy, meat products, eggs, whey, soy, seeds, nuts, whole wheat, brown rice, beans, and more.
And that’s why it’s important to eat a nutritious diet to get these essential bcaas.
Benefits of Supplementation
There are many benefits of BCAA consumption for health and performance with several studies to back up the claims.
Now, not everyone will respond favorably in every instance or experience all of the potential benefits. But supplementation is all about testing different ingredients and products to see what may work for each individual.
Here are a few of the main benefits of BCAA supplementation…
Muscle Growth
Out of the three BCAAs, leucine is the one primarily responsible for the stimulation of protein synthesis. (1, 2)
And according to one study, 5.6 grams of BCAA consumption alone increases muscle protein synthesis by 22% post-exercise. (3)
But the remaining 6 essential amino acids are also necessary for the full beneficial effects on muscle hypertrophy. (4, 5)
And one piece of research explained that a fast-acting carb source is best consumed with BCAAs since leucine cannot modulate protein synthesis most optimally without the presence of insulin. (6)
Performance Improvement
A few studies have shown the potential benefits of BCAAs on performance for soccer players and trained cyclists during sessions of physical exertion. (7, 8)
But the beneficial aspects are a result of the reduction of mental fatigue which allows for prolonged activity.
And according to another study, BCAA consumption may be a viable option for muscle recovery while also being beneficial for immune regulation for sports events. (9)
Muscle Preservation
One study among several concluded that BCAA supplementation before and after physical activity is beneficial for decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage since BCAAs are nutrients which can be oxidized in skeletal muscle. (10)
And because of the promising effects for the prevention of muscle wasting, BCAA supplementation may be a suitable therapeutic regime for people with cancer and other disease. (11)
Ingredients and Nutritional Information
Each serving of AMINOCORE contains a whopping 8,180mg of BCAAs at a 9:6:5 ratio.
Here are the amounts for each BCAA…
- Leucine (3,681mg)
- Valine (2,454mg)
- Isoleucine (2,045mg
A dose also contains 100% of the daily value of B3, B6, and B9.
And the additional ingredients include: Citric acid, malic acid, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, lecithin (sunflower), and FD&C Blue No. 1.
How Much Should I Take?
A study which tested the effects on nutrient timing as it relates to resistance training explained that 3-4g of leucine is necessary for maximum protein synthesis.
And a whey shake with at least three grams of leucine is ideal post-exercise for maximum benefit. (6)
So, if you aim for this number and ensure you’re consuming sufficient nutrients (protein especially); you should be in a good position to promote hypertrophy.
Best Time To Consume BCAAs
According to previous research, before and/or after exercise is an ideal time to consume your BCAAs.
However, there’s no conclusive evidence as to which is more effective seeing as both pre and post-exercise consumption has shown to elicit similar results. (12, 13)
But you can always follow the directions on the label.
AMINOCORE directions say to take a scoop during a workout or physical activity. And this makes sense since BCAAs are oxidized by muscles during activity.
But, many people find BCAAs to help with reducing fatigue during workouts which is a good reason to go this route.
Why ALLMAX Nutrition AMINOCORE?
ALLMAX AMINOCORE is a great supplement for the amount of quality amino acids contained in a serving.
And it contains a 100% of the daily value for vitamins B3, B6, AND B9.
B3 (Niacin) is necessary for energy production, plus nervous system and digestive health. (14)
And B6 is essential for immune, brain, and nervous system health, while B9 (folate) is essential for cell health and function. (15, 16)
The powder is made with INSTACLEAR technology for easy mixability, and AMINOCORE is informed-choice certified for sports testing.
Drawbacks
And other than the artificial flavors, sweeteners, and FD&C Blue No. 1, this is a great amino acid supplement to support your physical endeavors.
Sucralose and acesulfame potassium (high-intensity sweeteners) are considered safe sugar substitutes by the FDA. But many people would opt to pass, due to these added ingredients. (17)
And FD&C Blue No. 1 is another added substance which is approved for use in foods. But many people would prefer to not consume color additives either. (18)
How Much Does It Cost?
There are a few different sizes which vary in cost and serving size.
- $33 for 44 servings ($.75 per serving)
- $59 for 111 servings ($.53 cents per serving)
For a quality, higher-dosed amino supplement, it’s hard to complain about the cost to servings ratio. But budget is always a factor to consider before purchasing a nutritional supplement.
Flavor Options
There are several flavors to choose from…
- Blue raspberry
- Fruit punch blast
- White grape
- Key lime cherry
- Watermelon candy
- Pineapple mango
- Pink lemonade
- Green apple candy
- Sweet tea
Taste is really a subjective matter but that’s why user reviews can be very helpful in this instance. These flavors all sound really tasty but you’ll never know how a flavor measures unless you try one out for yourself.
Review Rating Of ALLMAX AMINOCORE
- Effectiveness – 8.5/10 Stars
- Ingredients – 8/10 Stars
- Taste – NA
- Price – 8.5/10 Stars
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for a good branched-chain amino acid supplement to aid your fitness endeavors then AMINOCORE is definitely right up there for what it offers.
It has a healthy dose of BCAAs, a decent cost per serving, and plenty of interesting flavors to choose from.
But it’s formulated by a pretty reputable company that delivers where quality is concerned and so, you might want to just try it out for yourself.
After all, evidence exists that BCAA supplementation can help your performance, and there are numerous studies to support its efficacy!
But, of course, results will vary…
References:
1-Kimball, Scot R.; Jefferson, Leonard S. (01 2006). “Signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms through which branched-chain amino acids mediate translational control of protein synthesis”. The Journal of Nutrition. 136 (1 Suppl): 227S–31S. doi:10.1093/jn/136.1.227S. ISSN 0022-3166. PMID 16365087.
2-Norton, Layne E.; Layman, Donald K. (2006-2). “Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise”. The Journal of Nutrition. 136 (2): 533S–537S. doi:10.1093/jn/136.2.533S. ISSN 0022-3166. PMID 16424142.
3-Jackman, Sarah R.; Witard, Oliver C.; Philp, Andrew; Wallis, Gareth A.; Baar, Keith; Tipton, Kevin D. (2017). “Branched-Chain Amino Acid Ingestion Stimulates Muscle Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis following Resistance Exercise in Humans”. Frontiers in Physiology. 8: 390. doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00390. ISSN 1664-042X. PMC 5461297. PMID 28638350.
4-Moberg, Marcus; Apró, William; Ekblom, Björn; van Hall, Gerrit; Holmberg, Hans-Christer; Blomstrand, Eva (June 1, 2016). “Activation of mTORC1 by leucine is potentiated by branched-chain amino acids and even more so by essential amino acids following resistance exercise”. American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology. 310 (11): C874–884. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00374.2015. ISSN 1522-1563. PMID 27053525.
5-Churchward-Venne, Tyler A.; Burd, Nicholas A.; Mitchell, Cameron J.; West, Daniel W. D.; Philp, Andrew; Marcotte, George R.; Baker, Steven K.; Baar, Keith; Phillips, Stuart M. (June 1, 2012). “Supplementation of a suboptimal protein dose with leucine or essential amino acids: effects on myofibrillar protein synthesis at rest and following resistance exercise in men”. The Journal of Physiology. 590 (11): 2751–2765. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2012.228833. ISSN 1469-7793. PMC 3424729. PMID 22451437.
6-Stark, Matthew; Lukaszuk, Judith; Prawitz, Aimee; Salacinski, Amanda (December 14, 2012). “Protein timing and its effects on muscular hypertrophy and strength in individuals engaged in weight-training”. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 9: 54. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-9-54. ISSN 1550-2783. PMC 3529694. PMID 23241341.
7-Wiśnik, Piotr; Chmura, Jan; Ziemba, Andrzej Wojciech; Mikulski, Tomasz; Nazar, Krystyna (2011-12). “The effect of branched chain amino acids on psychomotor performance during treadmill exercise of changing intensity simulating a soccer game”. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism = Physiologie Appliquee, Nutrition Et Metabolisme. 36 (6): 856–862. doi:10.1139/h11-110. ISSN 1715-5312. PMID 22050133.
8-Blomstrand, E.; Hassmén, P.; Ek, S.; Ekblom, B.; Newsholme, E. A. (1997-1). “Influence of ingesting a solution of branched-chain amino acids on perceived exertion during exercise”. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. 159 (1): 41–49. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201X.1997.547327000.x. ISSN 0001-6772. PMID 9124069.
9-Negro, M.; Giardina, S.; Marzani, B.; Marzatico, F. (2008-9). “Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system”. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 48 (3): 347–351. ISSN 0022-4707. PMID 18974721.
10-Shimomura, Yoshiharu; Murakami, Taro; Nakai, Naoya; Nagasaki, Masaru; Harris, Robert A. (06 2004). “Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise”. The Journal of Nutrition. 134 (6 Suppl): 1583S–1587S. doi:10.1093/jn/134.6.1583S. ISSN 0022-3166. PMID 15173434.
11-Eley, Helen L.; Russell, Steven T.; Tisdale, Michael J. (October 1, 2007). “Effect of branched-chain amino acids on muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia”. The Biochemical Journal. 407 (Pt 1): 113–120. doi:10.1042/BJ20070651. ISSN 0264-6021. PMC 2267397. PMID 17623010.
12-Ra, Song-Gyu; Miyazaki, Teruo; Kojima, Ryo; Komine, Shoichi; Ishikura, Keisuke; Kawanaka, Kentaro; Honda, Akira; Matsuzaki, Yasushi; Ohmori, Hajime (2018-11). “Effect of BCAA supplement timing on exercise-induced muscle soreness and damage: a pilot placebo-controlled double-blind study”. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 58 (11): 1582–1591. doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.17.07638-1. ISSN 1827-1928. PMID 28944645
13-Schoenfeld, Brad Jon; Aragon, Alan; Wilborn, Colin; Urbina, Stacie L.; Hayward, Sara E.; Krieger, James (2017). “Pre- versus post-exercise protein intake has similar effects on muscular adaptations”. PeerJ. 5: e2825. doi:10.7717/peerj.2825. ISSN 2167-8359. PMC 5214805. PMID 28070459.
14-“Niacin”. Mayo Clinic.
15-“Vitamin B-6”. Mayo Clinic.
16-“Folate (folic acid)”. Mayo Clinic.
17-Nutrition, Center for Food Safety and Applied (February 9, 2019). “High-Intensity Sweeteners”. FDA.
18-Nutrition, Center for Food Safety and Applied (March 16, 2019). “Summary of Color Additives for Use in the United States in Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices”. FDA.
