Branched chain amino acid supplementation and exercise induced muscle damage in exercise recovery: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Abstract Objective Accumulating evidences suggest positive effects of BCAAs on moderate muscle damage. However, findings vary substantially across studies. The aim of this review was to examine the effect of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) on recovery following exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods Controlled trials were identified through computerized literature searching and citation tracking performed up to November 2015. To pool data, either a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model and for assessing heterogeneity, Cochran's Q and I 2 tests were used. Results Eight trials met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data from eight studies showed that BCAA significantly reduced Creatine Kinase (CK) at two follow-up time (