I've been using Glutamine Select with great results over the past year, but have recently began noticing a relationship between it's use and a depressed mood. The more I read up on BCAAs, I continue to find that their benefits on focus & endurance are possible, not only due to the metabolization of BCAAs in muscle, but also due to their serotonin lowering effect. Elevated serotonin during exercise is known to be a contributor to an early onset of fatigue, although low levels of serotonin are linked with depression and anxiety.

Has anyone out there had similar depressive effects with long-term use of BCAA? Also, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

Great question Ryan. From a personal perspective I have been using BCAA's during my workouts for a few years now and have never noticed any issues with depression or anxiety. A lot of the supps that I take involve extra BCAA's in many forms, so I have been sort of deluged with extra BCAA's for several years now.

I will ocassionally get a bit of an upset stomach when taking in extra BCAA's, not really feeling ill just a little unpleasant, and in my mind I wonder if I am taking in too much extra BCAA at times.

i have read the same before and actually have feltsome of the same you describe. but i will wait until my jar of glut select and other bcaas is done. then will take a break and see if clears up.

I'm not sure if this is a issue because of low calorie diets such as contest dieting or going too long on an empty stomach, then working out.

There is a big difference on the type of vitamin supps, natural vs synthetic. Check into these as well.

You may want to look into your diet as well. Do you know if you have a gluten sensitivity? LIke Frank said, Synthetic vs natural will make a big difference. There is a supplement you can get at most health food stores called 5-HTP. It is a precursor to seratonin. If nothing else, cycle that in for a few weeks.

I slamm massive quantities of BCAAs about a month prior to a show and never really noticed any signs of depression, other than the fact that at that point of precontest prep im really starting to get depressed from not having any pizza, and bread and greasy food! But seriously I think alot has to do with other dietary restrictions, other than the BCAAs. Just my opinion.