Valine
Valine is the third branched-chain amino acid (after leucine and isoleucine) and one of the nine essentials. It supports energy production during long training sessions and helps repair muscle tissue post-exercise.
Why It Matters
Valine on its own is rarely a limiting factor. Its main role is helping the BCAA trio share the glucose-sparing and recovery workload. The interesting nuance is that high doses of leucine alone can suppress valine uptake, which is the historical reason BCAA supplements use a 2:1:1 ratio.
How to Spot It on a Label
Look on the back of any quality whey tub: valine should be near the top of the listed amino acids alongside leucine and isoleucine. The 2:1:1 BCAA ratio on a supplement label tells you the manufacturer included 2 parts leucine to 1 part each of isoleucine and valine.
Examples from real products
Related Terms
Keep learning with these closely-linked entries: