BCAA And Hair Loss

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are a highly used ingredient in the supplement industry and in the past there have been a number of claims and reports of a positive relationship between BCAAs and hair loss. This is something that we receive a number of questions about.

Today, we’re looking into BCAAs, the different side effects you can expect from them as well as if you need to worry about hair loss.

As said above, BCAAs are an ingredient found in many supplements. BCAAs consist of 3 essential acids – valine, isoleucine, and leucine.

When cutting calories, over time, your body is exposed to a catabolic state – this can over time lead to a loss of muscle mass. BCAAs are not something your body can produce naturally, which is why seek the three essential amino acids, leucine, isoleucine and valine. BCAA supplements if taken as daily with part of a training plan can help to reduce the loss of muscle mass.

BCAA supplements are named to be one of the safest supplements to use, however, many people are worried about the potential side effects of using them. We’re going to discuss a few potential side effects – including hair loss.

Cutting straight to it, BCAA does not cause hair loss and there are studies and theories that have shown that it might actually help to prevent it. BCAA supplements have shown promise in boosting the potassium ions which can help in improving the effectiveness of hair loss medications. This means if you’re taking hair loss medication – BCAAs might actually help them work better.

Acne is a skin condition that is usually associated with teenage years, however, it is believed that a high intake of protein could leave to the development of acne. Leucine, present in BCAAs is believed to active lipid production – however, there is not enough research to be certain if BCAAs actually cause acne.

It has been suggested in some articles that BCAA supplements can cause mental health problems, such as depression due to some nutrient interactions. Some evidence suggests that small tryptophan to BCAA ratio is associated with depressive symptoms. However, there are no studies that line up BCAA supplementation with depression and depression has a far more complicated sets of causes that just BCAA supplementation.

As said above, it is quite unlikely that BCAAs are causing you to lose your hair. If you are experiencing hair loss it could be due to another reason. If you would like to discuss this with a hair loss specialist please contact us today for a no obligation consultation. During your consultation, we’ll be able to look into the cause of your hair loss as well as look into potential treatments.