Wolfe 2017, BCAAs and muscle protein synthesis — myth or reality?

BCAAs alone cannot produce a maximal muscle-protein-synthesis response in humans: once BCAAs stimulate synthesis, the non-BCAA essential amino acids become rate-limiting and can only be drawn from muscle breakdown, capping the theoretical anabolic effect. The author concludes that claiming BCAA supplementation alone stimulates muscle protein synthesis in human subjects is unwarranted. Moderate.