Essential amino acid capsules – 8 EAA at 100 mg each, vegan, 60 count

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Essential amino acids are those the body cannot make itself, so they have to come from food. For a long time, eight were listed: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Today, histidine is usually counted as well for adults, which makes nine.

These capsules contain the eight classic essential amino acids, 100 mg each per daily dose. Histidine is not included.

The body uses amino acids to build proteins, for example for muscles, enzymes, transport molecules and immune cells. Some amino acids are also starting materials for other compounds; tryptophan, for instance, is used to make serotonin and niacin.

The EU has not authorised any health claims for individual amino acids. This page therefore only describes what the substances are and what research says about them, not what they do for you.

The German Nutrition Society (DGE) gives a reference value for adults under 65 of 0.8 g protein per kilogram of body weight per day, and 1.0 g from age 65. At 70 kg, that is 56 to 70 g protein a day. Good sources are pulses, dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, nuts and grains.

One daily dose of these capsules provides 0.8 g of amino acids. That is a small amount compared with the protein in an ordinary meal.

The label says: one capsule twice a day with enough liquid. It does not give a time. A particular time around training has not been studied for capsules in this amount; studies on muscle protein synthesis mostly used several grams of amino acids per portion.

If capsules are hard to swallow, you can open one and stir the contents into water.

BCAA stands for branched-chain amino acids, meaning leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are three of the essential amino acids. EAA stands for all essential amino acids.

To build protein, the body needs all essential amino acids at the same time. A review therefore concluded that BCAA alone have not been shown to increase muscle protein synthesis in humans (PubMed 28852372).

The capsules contain L-phenylalanine. People with phenylketonuria (PKU) may only take it in carefully set amounts; the product is not suitable for them.

The capsules also contain 100 mg L-tryptophan, the precursor of serotonin. If you take antidepressants or other medicines that act on serotonin, such as SSRIs, MAO inhibitors or triptans, talk with the ORY expert team or with your doctor or naturopath beforehand. You can also ask at your pharmacy. The same applies during pregnancy and breastfeeding and if you have liver or kidney disease.

No claim about muscles is authorised for amino acids. An overview of systematic reviews in older people found the best evidence for leucine and for protein supplements combined with strength training; the studies used amounts of several grams (PubMed 32483625).

These capsules provide 100 mg leucine per day. If strength or muscle mass noticeably declines, it should be assessed by a doctor.

No claim about sleep is authorised either. A meta-analysis found only four studies it could analyse. In them, tryptophan shortened the time spent awake after falling asleep, while other sleep measures did not change; the clearer effects were seen from 1 g of tryptophan a day (PubMed 33942088).

These capsules contain 100 mg tryptophan per day. Persistent sleep problems have many possible causes; your GP practice is a good first place to go.

Yes. At ORY, 20 amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, are part of Prevent 360. How tryptophan is processed further in the body is shown by the urine test Neurotransmitter Tryptophan Metabolismus Plus.

A single value is a snapshot and depends, among other things, on your last meal. What it means for you is something you discuss with the ORY expert team or with your doctor or naturopath.

The tub contains 60 vegan capsules of 471 mg each, net quantity 28 g. Two capsules provide 100 mg each of L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan and L-valine. The capsule shell is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; there are no colourings or additives.

At two capsules a day, the tub lasts about one month. The unit price is €105.36 per 100 g. There are no EU reference intakes (NRV) for free amino acids.