What Happens When You Have Too Much Amino Acids?

Thanks to their effectiveness and sound scientific standing, amino acids have become hugely popular among the fitness supplement community. These compounds offer a number of benefits, including some that outshine those of more traditional protein-based options, but because amino acid supplements are still relatively new, there are still plenty of questions floating around regarding how these products should be used. Most of these questions are perfectly reasonable; after all, anyone consuming a product should have some idea of how safe and effective it is before adding it to their routine. One common question relates to whether taking too much of one of these products is dangerous: What happens when you have too much amino acids? To find out, keep readings as the experts at aminoVITAL® explain.

What Is Considered Too Much Amino Acids?

One of the great things about amino acids is that, because they’re natural substances already found in our bodies and diets, it takes a large amount of these compounds to trigger a negative reaction in most people. There are a few special cases in which they could present a danger to a specific person, such as if someone has a rare disorder or other medical condition that affects their body’s ability to process amino acids. Barring that, however, most people have nothing to fear from amino acids.

As with any compound, however, there exists a point at which the body just can’t handle any more; even water can poison the body when consumed in extreme quantities. With amino acids, the exact point at which this occurs can vary from person to person, but a 2012 study¹ published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests a baseline from which suggestions can be made.

Based on the participants’ reactions to doses of leucine (an amino acid), the researchers conducting the study set a conservative estimate for the maximum amount of leucine that a person can safely consume: about 35 grams per day. This standard was set based on the reactions of healthy adult men, however – a demographic that generally requires higher doses of protein and amino acids than other groups – so this limit may be a bit lower for others.

Am I Likely to Have Too Much Amino Acids?

There are two important factors to keep in mind when weighing the risks. Firstly, most amino acid supplements are only partly made up of leucine; for example, the pre-, mid-, and post-workout supplements from aminoVITAL® offer five amino acids: the three BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) along with glutamine and arginine. This means that, even if you were to take 35 grams of a BCAA supplement, you wouldn’t be getting that amount of leucine, or of any particular amino acid.

The second point of note is that 35 grams of amino acids is far, far more than what most people take in, including those who use supplements. The Action intra-workout mix from aminoVITAL®, for instance, contains only 2.4 grams of amino acids; even if you took 10 of these supplements, you probably wouldn’t hit the upper limit of consumption established in the study discussed above. That said, using one amino acid supplement during your workout and one right after would probably suffice, and you should always use these products as directed.

The Result of Taking Too Much Amino Acids

Even accounting for the high upper limit and low doses in most amino acid supplements, there might still be an outside chance that a person could have too much amino acids. If this was to happen, you can rest easy knowing that the results tend to be fairly mild. Someone who has taken too many amino acid supplements might experience an upset stomach, nausea, headaches, or fatigue; slightly more serious effects include a loss of coordination, low mood, and issues with your sleep cycle. While the vast majority of users have few, if any, side effects when taking amino acids, it may be worth keeping an eye out for any of these symptoms if you take several supplements a day.

In addition, there are one or two concerns related to amino acid consumption in very specific cases. Those who have an upcoming surgery, for instance, may want to lay off the BCAAs starting about two weeks before the procedure, as the effects these compounds have on blood sugar may interfere with the post-surgery healing process.

Also, if you have a condition that might be exacerbated by amino acids, you shouldn’t use these products. Most of these conditions are rare; they include Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), maple syrup urine disease, chronic alcoholism, or branched-chain ketoaciduria. It has also been suggested that pregnant women may want to avoid taking amino acid supplements, though this seems to be more out of an abundance of caution than because of any specific risk.

Try Amino Acid Supplements for a Safe Boost in Exercise Performance and Results

When working out, we all want to see the best results possible. For some, this means bigger muscles, while others want more energy to push themselves harder or less soreness and fatigue after a long workout. Amino acid supplements from aminoVITAL® are a great choice for this, not only because they’re safe for most users but also because they are low in calories, are fast-acting, and have been proven effective through both empirical and anecdotal evidence. To learn more about these low-risk, high-reward supplements for improving performance and boosting gains, visit aminoVITAL® online or call (888) 264-6673 today.

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22952178/