Amino Acids

Essential Amino Acids All 9 in the 90-capsule pouch is the smaller way to start: the same vegan capsule and the same panel as our 180, with 2,800mg of all nine essential amino acids in a serving of four capsules. Leucine is the largest line at 934mg and tryptophan the smallest at 38mg, and in between come valine and lysine HCL at 410mg each, phenylalanine at 336mg, threonine at 280mg, isoleucine at 168mg, histidine at 130mg and methionine at 94mg. A serving also holds 5mg of BioPerine® black pepper extract.

Leucine, isoleucine and valine are the three branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, and on this panel they add up to 1,512mg, part of the 2,800mg rather than on top of it. So if you are choosing between an EAA and a BCAA product, this label already covers those three, alongside the other six. Read our guide, Essential Amino Acids Supplement: What the 9 Are, What 2800mg Means, for how the nine numbers become 2800mg and how to compare any amino acid label by the milligram.

Four capsules a day with water, preferably on an empty stomach, make this pouch 22 servings for £6.99, about 32p a day. Once the routine suits you, the 180-capsule pouch gives 45 servings at about 27p a day. The shell is plant-derived hypromellose, with rice starch and safflower oil making up the rest of the capsule, and the pouch belongs to our Sport & Fitness range.