If you follow any fitness influencers on social media, it’s pretty likely you’ll have seen them touting ‘BCAAs’, alongside pictures of their toned bodies.
But despite being wildly popular, the supplement has some worrying side-effects, a new study has warned.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have revealed that BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) are linked to reduced lifespan, mood changes, and weight gain.
In the study, the team looked at the impacts of BCAAs and other amino acids on the health and body composition of mice.
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Mice were either given the standard amount of BCAAs, twice the normal amount, half the normal amount or one fifth the normal amount.
Results revealed that mice that had consumed twice the normal amount of BCAAs had lower levels of serotonin, also known as the ‘happiness chemical’, in the brain.
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Professor Stephen Simpson, co-author of the study, said: “The serotonin decrease caused by excess BCAA intake led to massive overeating in our mice, which became hugely obese and lived shorter lives.”
Based on the findings, the researchers recommend eating a wide-range of proteins, including those that naturally contain BCAAs.
This includes red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, nuts and soy proteins.
