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Valine

Supplement branched-chain amino acid fitness
Aka: L-valine
Brands seen in Singapore: California Gold Nutrition, EVLution Nutrition, XTEND, Optimum Nutrition, Life Extension
Third-party tested: XTEND, Optimum Nutrition certify other products with NSF Certified for Sport, but nothing for valine.Certification is granted per product, so check the tub you actually own. Not being listed is not the same as failing.
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
One of three BCAAs · singly it has not been shown to help
When to take
Timing before or after training is not settled (NIH ODS)
Take with
Complete protein — BCAAs alone lack the other EAAs
Pros & cons
Pros
  • BCAAs can be burned in muscle for energy (NIH ODS)
  • Up to 20 g a day of BCAAs in divided doses appears safe
  • 3–6 week studies: 10–14 g a day of BCAAs aided gains
Cons
  • A jissn review calls the anabolic claim unwarranted
  • Human trials of valine on its own are scarce
  • Whey and complete proteins already supply it
Sources
  1. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAA introduction · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Three essential amino acids (EAAs)-leucine, isoleucine, and valine-are the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) ... Unlike other EAAs, the BCAAs can be metabolized by mitochondria in skeletal muscle to provide energy during exercise”
  2. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAA implications for use · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Studies have not consistently shown that taking supplements of BCAAs or any of their three constituent amino acids singly enhances exercise and athletic performance, builds muscle mass, or aids in recovery from exercise”
  3. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAA timing · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “it is not clear from existing research whether consumption of protein and BCAAs before versus after a workout affects their ability to maximize muscle protein synthesis and reduce protein catabolism”
  4. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAA safety · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Up to 20 g/day BCAA supplements in divided doses appear to be safe”
  5. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAA dose and muscle mass · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The results of several short-term studies lasting about 3 to 6 weeks suggest that about 10-14 g/day supplemental BCAAs might enhance gains in muscle mass and strength during training”
  6. NIH ODS — Exercise and Athletic Performance, BCAAs from food and protein powders · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Consuming animal foods containing complete proteins ... automatically increases consumption of BCAAs ... This is also true of consuming protein powders made from complete proteins, especially whey”
  7. Branched-chain amino acids and muscle protein synthesis in humans: myth or reality? (Wolfe, J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2017) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “We conclude that the claim that consumption of dietary BCAAs stimulates muscle protein synthesis or produces an anabolic response in human subjects is unwarranted”
  8. Wolfe 2017 (JISSN) — state of the human evidence for BCAAs taken alone · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “An extensive search of the literature has revealed no studies in human subjects in which the response of muscle protein synthesis to orally-ingested BCAAs alone was quantified”
  9. Europe PMC REST search, 27 Aug 26 — titles containing isoleucine or valine plus supplementation/randomized/trial, MED source, sorted by citations (52 hits; the most-cited are animal-feeding studies) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “"hitCount":52 ... "Isoleucine and valine supplementation of a low-protein corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diet for piglets: growth performance and nitrogen balance."”
  10. HSA Health Supplements Guidelines (GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. 020, January 2026) — working definition and Tables 4–5 (vitamins, minerals) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “HS are products that are used to supplement a diet ... contains one or more, or a combination of the following ingredients: a. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics and other bioactive substances”
  11. HSA Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines (GL-CHPB-1-012, Oct 2025), Annexes A/B · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.”
  12. iHerb Singapore — BCAA category page (default sort), read 27 Aug 26 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “BCAA 1 - 48 of 176 results ... California Gold Nutrition, Sport, BCAA, AjiPure(R) Branched Chain Amino Acids 2:1:1 with L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine”
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Updated 2026-08-30. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.