In the world of fitness and bodybuilding, pursuing muscle growth and performance enhancement has led to exploring countless supplements. Epicatechin powder and IBCAA (instant branched-chain amino acids) are two supplement ingredients that are getting much attention. Both claim to play a role in muscle growth, albeit through different mechanisms.
Epicatechin VS IBCAA: Are They Good For Muscle Growth?
Epicatechin For Muscle Growth
Epicatechin is a flavonol compound that occurs naturally in various plant sources, including cocoa beans and green tea. Nutri Avenue’s epicatechin powder, known as Epicatelean®, is extracted from green tea.
The ingredient’s popularity in the fitness community stems from its purported ability to improve muscle growth and performance. The mechanism by which it works is multifaceted.
First, it enhances nitric oxide production and promotes vasodilation. It increases muscle blood flow during exercise. This improved blood flow helps deliver essential nutrients to the muscles, aiding recovery and growth.
Additionally, it has been shown to have the ability to inhibit myostatin. Myostatin is a protein that controls muscle growth by inhibiting muscle stem cell function. The ingredient may indirectly promote muscle hypertrophy through this inhibin, further enhancing its appeal to athletes and bodybuilders.
IBCAA For Muscle Growth
IBCAA is known as instant branched-chain amino acids. It contains three essential amino acids, including valine, isoleucine, and leucine. These amino acids are essential for synthesizing muscle protein and producing energy during physical activity.
Of these, leucine is particularly important because it stimulates muscle protein synthesis. Muscle protein synthesis is a necessary process for muscle repair and growth.
IBCAA supplements are typically consumed before or during exercise to support muscle recovery, reduce fatigue, and preserve lean muscle mass, especially during intense training.
Epicatechin VS IBCAA: What’s The Difference?
The biggest difference is the mechanism of action of the two. Epicatechin achieves muscle growth by enhancing blood flow and inhibiting myostatin. IBCAA directly provides essential amino acids for muscle protein synthesis and energy production. The leucine in it activates the mTOR pathway. It is a key regulator of protein synthesis.
Second, Epicatechin and IBCAA come from different sources. The former is derived from plants such as cocoa beans and green tea. For example, the source of Nutri Avenue’s Epicatelean® is green tea. The latter are usually derived from animal protein sources.
Epicatechin VS IBCAA: Which One Is Better For Muscle Growth?
First, it’s safe to say that both ingredients aid in muscle growth.
A 2014 study found the effect of epicatechin on regulatory factors in the body. Researchers found that epicatechin had a positive effect on myostatin. Participants who took epicatechin had a nearly 50% increase in follistatin and a 16% decrease in myostatin. For bodybuilders whose training volume has reached the limit, the final level of training will be greatly affected by the level of myostatin in the body. Therefore, the special ability of epicatechin is a powerful muscle-building tool for bodybuilders.
IBCAA has been one of the most popular supplements in the fitness world for a long time. This ingredient is so useful because it can be oxidized as fuel in the muscles and utilized quickly rather than being metabolized by the liver first. In other words, the body can quickly use it and metabolize it quickly. Studies show that taking IBCCA can increase total energy during aerobic exercise by 10%.
Additionally, research in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition reports that consuming moderate amounts of IBCAA can help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. BCAA supplementation reduced soreness by up to 33% in subjects taking the substance compared to those taking a placebo. As a result, IBCAA has been widely used to improve healing after musculoskeletal injuries or sugary procedures.
The tryptophan in IBCAA is a key component in the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with fatigue during exercise. One study showed that subjects who took a 20-gram supplement of this ingredient before a workout had lower post-workout serotonin levels than those who took a placebo. Participants who took 14 grams of IBCAA per day lost about 1 percent more body fat and gained 4.4 pounds of muscle than those who took whey protein. These two studies suggest that the ingredient may relieve fatigue and aid weight loss.
All in all, the two achieve muscle growth through different mechanisms. Both have studies proving their effectiveness. There is no better way to say it. Nutri Avenue recommends choosing the best ingredients based on product needs.
Conclusion
In summary, through the discussion of “Epicatechin VS IBCAA,” they provide unique benefits for enhancing muscle growth and performance. Epicatechin powder may promote muscle growth by improving nutrient delivery and inhibiting myostatin, while IBCAA supplements directly support muscle repair and development by providing essential amino acids.
Nutri Avenue offers both ingredients. If you are interested, please contact us for more product information and the latest quotation.
