Valine

Along with leucine and isoleucine, valine is one of the three branched chain amino acids (BCAAs).

There is presently no substantial advantage of valine supplementation that cannot be reproduced by either leucine or isoleucine supplementation (since having a ‘branched chain’ gives some bioactivity, which is shared to some extent by all of the BCAAs). This might simply be due to a lack of data, as valine is frequently employed in studies to evaluate the effects of a branched chain amino acid (and valine is selected at random), and the bioactivities of valine haven’t been thoroughly explored.

It resembles leucine more than isoleucine, although the transitory condition of insulin resistance develops faster than with leucine (isoleucine induces glucose absorption), and the muscle-building benefits of valine are likely smaller than both leucine and isoleucine.

How to Take

There is presently lack of data to identify an appropriate dose of valine supplementation or the objectives for which valine supplementation could be beneficial.