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Branched Chain Amino Acids (Free Form)

Life Extension
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(1594 ratings)
Isoleucine 600 mg
Valine 600 mg
Leucine 1200 mg
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Score79
Free-form BCAAs provide 1,200 mg leucine with 600 mg each of isoleucine and valine in a balanced formula. All three amounts are modest for exercise-focused use, while four capsules and weaker value reduce practicality.
How scoring works
Quantity:90 Capsule(s) • (22 servings)
Goals:

Score 79

Free-form BCAAs provide 1,200 mg leucine with 600 mg each of isoleucine and valine in a balanced formula. All three amounts are modest for exercise-focused use, while four capsules and weaker value reduce practicality.
How scoring works
$15.00($0.68 per serving)
iHerb
$ 15.00
Amazon
$ 15.00
Vitacost
$ 15.00
Pure Formulas
$ 15.00
Vitacost
$ 15.03
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Analysis

Free-form BCAAs provide 1,200 mg leucine with 600 mg each of isoleucine and valine in a balanced formula. The label provides enough detail to understand the central formula and serving.

All three amounts are modest for exercise-focused use, while four capsules and weaker value reduce practicality. That trade-off materially affects potency, convenience, transparency, or value.

Best suited to people seeking a basic capsule BCAA blend rather than high-dose workout support. Expectations should match the disclosed ingredients and the product's focused role.

Who is it for
  • people seeking a basic capsule BCAA blend rather than high-dose workout support
  • People who prefer the disclosed format and serving style
  • Users whose priorities match the formula rather than broader nutrition
Best for
  • Uses free-form branched-chain amino acids
  • Discloses every active amount
  • people seeking a basic capsule BCAA blend rather than high-dose workout support

Pros

  • Uses free-form branched-chain amino acids
  • Discloses every active amount
  • Maintains a balanced leucine-led ratio

Cons

  • Leucine is below a stronger target amount
  • Requires four capsules per serving
  • Value is weaker for the active amount delivered

Nutrient quality

87 Highest impact

The free-form branched-chain amino acids are clearly identified and do not require protein digestion. The serving is modest, with leucine below a strong muscle-protein trigger and limited isoleucine and valine.

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Ingredient transparency

83 Highest impact

Active ingredients have stated amounts and no proprietary blend hides a dose. Serving count is supplied, while full directions and the other-ingredients list are missing.

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Customer satisfaction

68 High impact

The supplied aggregate rating is the only evidence of general satisfaction and its reliability depends on rating volume. No comment-level evidence is available to assess recurring complaints or confirm how experience matches the intended purpose.

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Value for money

72 High impact

The formula offers mixed value because dose or focus limits practical usefulness. Comparable products offer better targeted dose value.

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Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
L-Leucine
1200 mg
L-Isoleucine
600 mg
L-Valine
600 mg
Adults 18–50
Report overview
Isoleucine · 600 mg OverallScore65
B- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityD+ Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyB+ Value

Provides free-form L-isoleucine with a clearly stated amount, so the amino acid does not depend on protein digestion. The capsule format and modest serving amount limit its usefulness for rapid, higher-dose workout support, and four capsules are required. The serving cost is reasonable, but no independent sport or purity certification is disclosed.

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Valine · 600 mg OverallScore57
C+ Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityB- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyF Value

Free-form L-Valine provides a clearly disclosed 600 mg dose alongside leucine and isoleucine. Capsules offer precise dosing but are less suited to rapid intra-workout mixing than powder. The dose is below the collection benchmark, and the cost per gram is high despite full label transparency.

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Leucine · 1200 mg OverallScore56
D+ Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityC Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyD+ Value

Free-form L-leucine is clearly identified, but no fermented, vegan, or branded source is supplied. The amount is below the usual standalone muscle-protein trigger range, even with the accompanying isoleucine and valine. Four capsules are practical, while the cost per active amount is only moderate.

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Loading alternative details
79 Performance

The Original Strawberry Kiwi Splash

XTEND
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 3.5 g leucine, 1.75 g isoleucine, and 1.75 g valine, plus glutamine, citrulline malate, and electrolytes, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. The expanded powder formula adds ingredients beyond the original three-amino-acid focus, which may be unnecessary for someone seeking only BCAAs.
83 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Lake Avenue Nutrition
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
82 Performance

Branched-Chain Amino Acids

NOW Sports
Higher disclosed amounts of all three BCAAs give 1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine, providing stronger standalone coverage than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
60 Budget

Daily Amino Acid

21st Century
The lower listed serving cost provides small BCAA amounts within a broad essential-amino-acid blend, making it a more economical choice than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
80 Budget

Mega-Size BCAA 1000 Caps

Optimum Nutrition
The lower listed serving cost provides 0.5 g leucine, 0.25 g isoleucine, and 0.25 g valine, making it a more economical choice than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
84 Budget

BCAA 3200 mg

Best Naturals
The lower listed serving cost provides 1.6 g leucine, 0.8 g isoleucine, and 0.8 g valine, making it a more economical choice than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
76 Value

The Original Smash Apple

XTEND
3.5 g leucine, 1.75 g isoleucine, and 1.75 g valine, plus glutamine, citrulline malate, and electrolytes combine a stronger supplied dose-and-value balance than the original. The expanded powder formula adds ingredients beyond the original three-amino-acid focus, which may be unnecessary for someone seeking only BCAAs.
82 Value

Branched Chain Amino Acids

NOW Sports
1.6 g leucine, 0.65 g isoleucine, and 0.65 g valine combine a stronger supplied dose-and-value balance than the original. Leucine still sits below a strong standalone muscle-protein trigger, and full directions and excipient details are not supplied.
68 Value

BCAA Plus Branched Chain Amino Acids

Solgar
0.54 g leucine, 0.36 g isoleucine, and 0.3 g valine, plus vitamin B6 offer a practical quality-and-cost tradeoff, although the supplied data do not establish clearly better value than the original. All three BCAA amounts are well below meaningful standalone levels, so the apparent serving value overstates practical coverage.
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