Essential Amino Acids – BCAA
What are BCAAs?
Amino acids are materials that constitute organs, skin, muscles, fur, ligaments, cartilage, nails, and blood. They also serve as the building blocks for digestive enzymes, hormones, and immune substances, making them indispensable components for maintaining health.
Amino acids are essential for the survival of not just us humans but also animals like dogs and cats.
There are 20 types of amino acids. Among these, humans cannot synthesize 9 types, dogs cannot synthesize 10 types, and cats cannot synthesize 11 types within their bodies. These are called essential amino acids.
Essential amino acids must be consumed in a balanced manner to function effectively.
Essential amino acids are often explained using the analogy of a barrel made up of several planks. If even one plank is shorter, water will flow out from there, and you can only fill the barrel up to the height of the shortest plank.
Similarly, if there is a deficiency of any essential amino acid in the protein contained in food, the amino acid score matches that of the most deficient essential amino acid, making it difficult for the body to utilize the protein effectively.
Among these essential amino acids, valine, leucine, and isoleucine have a branched structure and are therefore called branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs (short for Branched Chain Amino Acid).
BCAAs are found in muscles and blood, and they help suppress the breakdown of protein in muscles, are involved in muscle synthesis, and are used as an energy source during exercise. However, they are nutrients that are difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities from a regular diet.
Who Should Take BCAAs?
BCAAs do not increase blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, so they are recommended to supplement nitrogen sources in pets with protein restrictions.
- Pets that you do not want to burden their liver or kidneys
- Pets that have poor protein absorption
- Pets with a small food intake
- Pets that need to maintain muscle mass
- Pets concerned about carbohydrates
- Pets with low albumin levels
BCAAs are easily absorbed in the body without the need for digestion.
They skip the digestion time in the stomach and are absorbed immediately, causing no burden on the body.
We strongly recommend incorporating BCAAs as a nutritional supplement (amino acid supplement) for pets with weakened stamina.
Pets with kidney or liver issues are often advised by veterinarians to have a diet with restricted protein. In fact, prescribed foods typically limit protein content.
However, as long as both humans and animals like dogs and cats are alive, amino acids are consumed daily, making amino acid supplementation indispensable.
BCAAs can supplement essential amino acids without burdening the body, and we highly recommend incorporating them for pets under dietary restrictions.
In addition, it is recommended to provide Green Tripe (stomach of ruminants), which supplements live enzymes, essential fatty acids, lactic acid bacteria, and high-quality protein.
Our laboratory is conducting research on the interaction between amino acids, including BCAA, and Cordy.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
監修獣医師：林美彩 所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所
代替療法と西洋医学、両方の動物病院での勤務経験と多数のコルディの臨床経験をもつ。 モノリス在籍時には、一般的な動物医療（西洋医学）だけでは対応が困難な症例に対して多くの相談を受け、免疫の大切さを痛烈に実感する。
ペットたちの健康維持・改善のためには薬に頼った対処療法だけではなく、「普段の生活環境や食事を見直し、自宅でさまざまなケアを取り入れることで免疫力を維持し、病気にならない体づくりを目指していくことが大切である」という考えを提唱し普及活動に従事している。
所属：
- Diet Therapy for Cancer in Dogs and Cats—Emphasize High Protein and Low Carbohydrate
- New Dietary Ideas to Combat Cancer (Dogs and Cats Edition)
- Actively Take Vitamins for Cancer Prevention in Dogs and Cats
- Low Protein Diets and Kidney Disease in Cats
- Supplementation of BCAA for Dogs and Cats with Fatigue, Liver, and Kidney Issues
- Healthy Gut!—Boosting Immunity from the Gut through Probiotics and Gut Health
