The ps1000 diet supplement was created in 2009 as a safe and effective alternative to the many fad diets and sham products on today’s market. It is composed of natural amino acids and supplements that assist consumers with reducing body fat, optimizing metabolism, increasing energy, and improving muscle mass.
Those who have had bad experiences with dietary supplements in the past are, understandably, often wary of trying new products. This article focuses on one primary ingredient in the PS1000 supplement called Valine, explaining its composition and uses and describing the scientific evidence supporting its use as a dietary supplement.
What is Valine?
Valine is a branched-chain amino acid that is commonly found in naturally occurring proteins. It is important to note, however, that the body does not naturally produce valine, so this essential amino acid can only be obtained through eating foods with high-concentrations of valine or taking dietary supplements. Although there are plenty of foods that offer natural sources of valine, supplements are also available for both medical and performance-enhancing purposes.
What are Branched-Chain Amino Acids?
The term branched-chain refers to the chemical structure of valine and other amino acids falling under this general category. There are also two other branched-chain amino acids that are commonly found in foods, known as leucine and isoleucine. This group of amino acids is often referred to as BCAAs, which are commonly used in workout supplements.
BCAAs constitute a large portion of the body’s total amino acid concentrations, representing between 35 and 40% of all essential amino acids present in a patient’s body overall and between 14 and 18% of the amino acids found in the muscles. In fact, these building blocks can be used by the body to create new muscle by stimulating cells to take in more sugar from the bloodstream, making them invaluable to healthy muscle development. It’s important to note, though, that valine is known to play a larger role in regulating blood and muscle sugar levels and producing energy than in building the muscle proteins themselves.
What Foods Naturally Contain BCAAs?
There are many foods that naturally contain a certain amount of branched-chain amino acids such as valine. These include baked beans, lima beans, beef, chicken, fish, eggs, chickpeas, lentils, whole wheat, brown rice, certain types of nuts such as almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews, pumpkin seeds, and whey, milk, and soy proteins. However, not all consumers are able to get enough valine and other BCAAs from food alone, especially when they are in the process of building muscle mass and losing weight, in which case the use of a supplement may be appropriate.
What are the Medical Applications of Valine?
Valine can be administered either intravenously or orally and is used within the medical field to treat muscle wasting, chronic loss of appetite, and certain types of brain disorder. It is frequently prescribed to those who are suffering from lack of appetite due to cancer treatments and may also improve symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy and tardive dyskinesia, among other diseases. Other reported medical uses of valine include treatment for diabetes and inherited forms of autism; however, there is not currently sufficient medical research to support these claims.
What are the Metabolic Benefits of Valine?
Valine acts as an effective appetite suppressant, which helps to explain its popularity in weight loss supplements. However, its primary benefit is that it is able to increase exercise endurance and muscle tissue recovery in those who use it as a means of building healthy muscle mass. In fact, its beneficial effects on muscle metabolism are so significant that it is often used by bodybuilders to promote muscle growth and supply energy through maintaining a proper amount of nitrogen in consumers’ bodies.
What Other Benefits Does Valine Have?
Valine also plays an essential role in supporting smooth nervous system tissue and improving cognitive functioning. It is also important to immune system regulation. Unlike most amino acids, valine and other BCAAs are not processed by the liver but are instead taken up by the body’s muscles, helping to explain why so many of their benefits pertain directly to athletes and dieters looking to build muscle mass.
How Can Valine Improve Exercise Routines?
Studies on exercise fatigue have shown that participants who are taking valine supplements experience up to 15% less physical and mental fatigue than control subjects. Similar studies have shown that Valine and other BCAAs are actually most effective at reducing exercise-induced fatigue in individuals who have not received any formal athletic training. This makes it a perfect candidate for inclusion in dietary supplements, which are generally marketed to average consumers rather than professional athletes.
In addition to reducing physical and mental fatigue due to exercise, valine can also help combat muscle soreness in athletes, with study participants reporting up to 33% less muscle soreness when taking valine as compared to control subjects who were given placebos. The reason Valine can perform this valuable function is that BCAAs, in general, operate by lowering levels of the enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the bloodstream. These enzymes are known to contribute to muscle damage, so avoiding excess production of them can help improve recovery times after intense exercise and even protect against muscle damage, to begin with.
The BCAA best supplements for increasing muscle mass include higher proportions of leucine than valine or isoleucine; however, these amino acids work together to support muscle health and growth. Try to find a product that includes more than one branched-chain amino acid to reap maximum benefit from muscle-building supplements.
Is There Scientific Evidence That This Encourages Weight Loss?
The simple answer to this commonly-asked question is a resounding yes. Observational studies report that dieters who consume at least 15 grams of BCAAs each day have a 30% lower risk of becoming overweight than those consuming only 12 grams per day. Those taking BCAA supplements were also able to lose 0.6% more body fat when compared to those consuming soy protein, while weightlifters who were given 14 grams of BCAAs each day reported losing 1% more body fat over an eight-week period than study participants who were given 28 grams of whey protein each day.
Can Anyone Benefit from Valine?
BCAAs are known to cause interference with blood glucose levels in surgical and post-surgical patients, making supplements that contain valine inappropriate for use in patients intending to undergo surgery in the immediate future. Other risk factors for developing excessively high blood glucose levels include chronic alcoholism and branched-chain ketoaciduria. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also avoid the use of valine and other BCAAs.
Patients who are taking certain kinds of medications and supplements should also avoid the use of valine and other BCAAs, as they are known to produce negative interactions with certain medications and foods. Anyone taking pharmaceutical medications or supplements designed to treat the symptoms of diabetes or Parkinson’s disease should consult his or her doctor prior to taking dietary supplements containing valine. Those who are taking corticosteroids, Proglycem, or thyroid hormones should also consult a dedicated physician prior to taking valine and other BCAAs.
Does it Have Any Side Effects?
While there are no serious side effects associated with long-term use of valine supplements, some consumers have reported minor cases of pain, nausea, and headaches when taking these supplements for six months or longer. These side effects often resolve themselves without additional medical attention.