Branched Chain Amino Acids (Free Form)

Branched Chain Amino Acids (Free Form)

Life Extension4.7 (1,594 ratings)
Format:Capsule Quantity: 90 Capsule(s) · 22 servings
$15.00 $0.68 per serving
iHerbLowest$15.00Pure Formulas$15.00Amazon$15.00Vitacost$15.00Vitacost$15.03

Product analysis

44 out of 100

Branched Chain Amino Acids (Free Form) supplies leucine, isoleucine and valine, with relatively high costs for leucine and valine that weaken its value.

AI assessment of the formula, label and price. How scoring works

Nutrient Quality20

The component preparations are not fully specified, limiting a firm quality comparison. Accompanying details identify L-isoleucine without resolving the other amino acids' form details.

Ingredient Transparency63

The amounts are disclosed, but the forms are unspecified. Serving sizes can be compared more readily than preparation quality.

Value For Money37

Leucine and valine have relatively high costs in their comparisons, while the isoleucine comparison is favorable. The mixed result makes value less compelling for the combination.

Customer Satisfaction83

Customer ratings are favorable, with a substantial review pool. Reviews describe satisfaction without establishing effectiveness or safety.

Product Focus40

The formula concentrates on three branched-chain amino acids. There is not enough benefit information to judge its performance for particular exercise or health goals.

Format
Capsule
Container
90 Capsule(s)
Per serving
$0.68
Customer rating
4.7 · 1,594 ratings
Report analysis

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per servingScore
L-Leucine
1200 mg 56
L-Isoleucine
600 mg 70
L-Valine
600 mg 59
Adults 18–50
Report overview
Isoleucine · 600 mg OverallScore70
A- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityD+ Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyB+ Value
View ingredientView products
Valine · 600 mg OverallScore59
B- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityB- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyF Value
A 4-capsule serving supplies a clearly disclosed but modest 600 mg of free-form L-valine. The whole-product price works out to a high $1.11 per gram, limiting value when comparing the valine contribution.
How this ingredient is rated

Active Ingredient Quality & Bioavailability71

The free-form L-valine source is clear, while the saved facts provide no external-testing or sport-certification evidence.
Valine Isomer and Source Type
Free-form L-valine is explicitly identified, rather than valine supplied within whole protein.
Third-Party Sport Certifications
The saved facts provide no external-testing or sport-certification claim, so these checks cannot be confirmed.

Dose, Safety & Label Transparency70

Clear disclosure makes the amount easy to check, but the modest valine contribution limits its role in exercise-focused comparisons.
Valine Dosage Efficacy
The 600 mg per serving is a modest contribution for the intended exercise use.
Label Transparency and Proprietary Blends
The individual 600 mg valine amount is disclosed per serving, rather than only a total blend or protein weight.

Value10

At about $1.11 per gram of valine, the whole-product price represents a high cost for this ingredient contribution.
Price Per Gram of Valine
The whole-product price works out to about $1.11 per gram of valine, a high cost for the declared amount.
View ingredientView products
Leucine · 1200 mg OverallScore56
B- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityC Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyF Value
View ingredientView products
79 Performance

The Original Strawberry Kiwi Splash

XTEND
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 3.5 g leucine, 1.75 g isoleucine, and 1.75 g valine, plus glutamine, citrulline malate, and electrolytes, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. The expanded powder formula adds ingredients beyond the original three-amino-acid focus, which may be unnecessary for someone seeking only BCAAs.
83 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Lake Avenue Nutrition
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
82 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

NOW Sports
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
60 Budget

Daily Amino Acid

21st Century
The lower listed serving cost provides small BCAA amounts within a broad essential-amino-acid blend, making it a more economical choice than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
80 Budget

Mega-Size BCAA 1000 Caps

Optimum Nutrition
The lower listed serving cost provides 0.5 g leucine, 0.25 g isoleucine, and 0.25 g valine, making it a more economical choice than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
84 Budget

BCAA 3200 mg

Best Naturals
The lower listed serving cost provides 1.6 g leucine, 0.8 g isoleucine, and 0.8 g valine, making it a more economical choice than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
76 Value

The Original Smash Apple

XTEND
3.5 g leucine, 1.75 g isoleucine, and 1.75 g valine, plus glutamine, citrulline malate, and electrolytes combine a stronger supplied dose-and-value balance than the original. The expanded powder formula adds ingredients beyond the original three-amino-acid focus, which may be unnecessary for someone seeking only BCAAs.
82 Value

Branched Chain Amino Acids

NOW Sports
1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine combine a stronger supplied dose-and-value balance than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
68 Value

BCAA Plus Branched Chain Amino Acids

Solgar
0.54 g leucine, 0.36 g isoleucine, and 0.3 g valine, plus vitamin B6 offer a practical quality-and-cost tradeoff, although the supplied data do not establish clearly better value than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
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