Effect of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation on muscle soreness and muscle damage factors after exercise in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation is used as a nutritional strategy to reduce muscle soreness in athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of BCAA supplementation on muscle soreness and muscle damage factors after exercise in healthy adults.

A systematic search of articles published in English and Persian databases until November 2023 (without limiting the year of publication) was conducted to the effect of BCAA supplementation on muscle soreness and markers of muscle damage, including creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myoglobin (MB) was investigated in healthy adults.

A total of 28 studies, including 528 subjects, were included in the present meta-analysis. The results showed that BCAA supplementation significantly reduced muscle soreness at 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise compared with the control group (P<0.05); however, it was not significant immediately after exercise. This supplementation caused a significant decrease in CK and LDH immediately, 48 hours after exercise, compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, BCAA supplementation caused a significant decrease in circulating myoglobin after exercise in athletes and non-athletes compared with the control group (P<0.05).

Using BCAA supplementation can be considered a useful and effective strategy for athletes to reduce muscle soreness (24-72 hours after exercise) and muscle damage markers, including CK (48-72 hours after exercise) and LDH (48 hours after exercise).