How Do Amino Acids Work for Weight Loss?

Many studies have investigated the potential of amino acid supplementation to support muscle development and weight loss; how these molecules fuel greater weight loss is complicated, but there are some possible answers.

Amino acids can increase performance, and a direct consequence is losing weight through exercise; if they can give you more energy, relieve fatigue and improve recovery times, they can definitely maximise your workouts to burn more calories. There is some research evidence that amino acid supplements do precisely that, and in this regard there are a few things we can look at.

Amino acids help you lose weight by burning fat

Multiple studies have shown that there may be an increase in fat burning when amino acids are used; an increase in fat metabolism will definitely lead to greater weight loss if it really works. One study showed that daily amino acid supplementation decreased body fat percentage in men who were already following a strength training plan, but the difference was seen in comparison with those who used whey protein or sports drinks post-workout.

Unfortunately, other studies have sought to find out whether amino acid supplementation can burn more fat, but with mixed results, so the industry needs to focus on better studies to find out whether it really has a specific benefit for promoting fat loss or whether other factors are involved.

Amino acids help you lose weight by boosting muscle development

The potential ability of amino acid supplements to increase fat burning may be related to muscle growth; the more muscle mass an athlete has, the greater their potential to lose fat and burn calories. Muscle tissue uses more energy than fat tissue, so as you build muscle, your metabolism speeds up and you burn more calories.

So, if amino acids can help you build more muscle, they can increase weight loss or be the ideal support for fuelling the muscles and satisfying the body on a restricted weight-loss diet. The key here may be to use BCAAs, or branched-chain amino acids; of the nine essential amino acids, three have a branched-chain structure: isoleucine, leucine and valine, and as you know, leucine may be the most important in terms of muscle growth because it triggers anabolic pathways, specifically by activating certain enzymes after training.

Amino acids stimulate GH, helping you lose weight

Somatotropin, or GH, is a growth hormone that the body produces mainly at night, during sleep; it stimulates the building of proteins from amino acids and the oxidation of fats. One way to burn fat and lose weight is to achieve higher levels of this growth hormone, but you cannot simply take a supplement or an injection of it; you can, however, use amino acids that stimulate GH secretion.

The essential amino acid methionine and the non-essential amino acids arginine and glutamine can do this and promote weight loss; there is some evidence that taking these amino acid supplements on an empty stomach before going to bed may increase GH secretion and fat loss.

Amino acids may block fat storage

There may be another reason to take the amino acid glutamine, and that is for greater weight loss; glutamine can actually be converted into glucose, the sugar that provides the body’s main source of energy, and do so without affecting the hormones that stimulate fat storage.

This means that glutamine can provide energy without pushing the body to store additional energy as fat, and it may also reduce cravings for some of the foods that tend to make you gain weight, such as sugar and alcohol.

Source:

• International Sports Sciences Association Research: Amino Acids for Weight Loss – Do Supplements Work?