Info about taurine, CEE, leucine etc etc

[BEEF]

Is there anywhere that I can find reliable and consise information about products such as these? I'm trying to put together a 'supplement resource' so if I ever need to know anything I can just check this instead of having to trawl round the net finding information.

Cheers!

[BEEF]

Any ideas?

[hitman]

looks like u just insulted half the people on this board...

[ShoreThing]

?? how so?

[BEEF]

looks like u just insulted half the people on this board...

With a question? I am confused.

[HARDCORE]

Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL (CEE) is creatine monohydrate with an ester attached. Esters are organic compounds that are formed by esterification - the reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohols.


What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Regular creatine monohydrate has been shown effective at increasing lean muscle mass 1,2,3,4, muscle strength 5,6 and athletic performance. 7,8

However, regular creatine monohydrate is absorbed poorly by the body - and its effectiveness is dependant upon the cells ability to absorb it. The poor absorption rate of regular creatine monohydrate requires the creatine user to ingest large dosages of creatine to achieve desired effect.

Because creatine draws water to the cell, and because most ingested creatine monohydrate is not absorbed, unabsorbed creatine will sit outside of the target cell with the water, and this will result in the "creatine bloat."

Long-term clinical studies have proven that creatine monohydrate is safe for use by persons free of medical complication9, but why would you want to ingest more creatine monohydrate than you have to simply because your creatine is inefficient?

Creatine ethyl ester is creatine monohydrate with an ester attached. The attachment of an ester is significant, because esters are found in the fat tissue of animals. But, why is this important? What role does this have in the absorption of creatine?

All substances that you put into your body will affect its operation. There are three ways that substances can affect a cells operation. They are:

Ligand binding to protein receptor sites.
Secondary messenger / metabotropic systems
Passive permeation of the cell wall via lipids
 
When a substance enters the body and affects the bodies operation, it is known as a ligand. The soma and dendrites of the cell have protein receptor sites to which ligands can bind. The process of a ligand binding with a receptor site is akin to a lock and key: only keys of a certain shape work with certain locks. When they work and cause the cells stimulation they are called agonists. When they block the cell from functioning they are called antagonists.
 
 
When a ligand binds with the receptor site of a target cell, the cell, in the simplest of cases, changes its shape, opens up its ion channels and changes its function. In so-called "secondary messenger" or metabotropic cells, the ligand binds with the receptor site and an internal protein known as a g-protein is released. This released protein then binds to an internal site inside of the cell, and then the cell changes its behavior by opening its ion channels. Cells that operate in this way are known as metabotropic cells because their operation requires metabolic energy.

Passive permeation is a process that describes the diffusion of a substance across a cell membrane through the use of lipids as transport mechanisms. Because no "work" is being done by the cell in this model, this model is called passive permeation.

Creatine monohydrate utilizes lipids to permeate the cell wall and enter the cell. Because of this, the esterification of creatine, and the presence of esters in animal fat tissue, becomes significant.

Creatine monohydrate is semi-lipopholic. This means that it inefficiently uses fat as a transport mechanism. The esterification of substances will increase their lipopholic abilities, and thus esterified creatine will use fat more efficiently to permeate the cell wall and exert its effects upon cellular function than its unesterified creatine monohydrate counterpart.

This means, simply, that not only will dosage requirements be lower, but the absorption of esterified creatine will be increased and the infamous "creatine bloat" will be eliminated!


Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Creatine Ethyl Ester can benefit persons of all ages, as it displays the same benefits as regular creatine monohydrate. Many multiple sclerosis patients are classified as creatine non-responders, but with the improved absorption seen with CEE this may not be the case.


Is Creatine Ethyl Ester real?
Much controversy has been generated over creatine ethyl ester. Companies and individuals with a financial interest in promoting creatine monohydrate products have attempted to discredit creatine ethyl ester. Some companies have even gone so far as to commission laboratory reports that show that creatine ethyl ester is not real.

Included with this page is one such report, and also included are two COA's - certificates of analysis - proving that creatine ethyl ester is real. These are included so that you, the consumer, can make up your own mind - so that you can base your choices upon the power of information.

The one report that states that creatine ethyl ester is fake was commissioned by an industry company with an interest in discrediting creatine ethyl ester. The two certificates of analysis included show that CEE is real and was done on raw source product and conducted by people with no financial interest in the promotion of creatine ethyl ester.

The esterification of creatine is chemically possible and not hard to conceive. Those who claim that CEE is fake are denying obvious science and are cheating the consumer.

[HARDCORE]

Above is just an example of a simple Google search, we should put these in our Supplement forum as they come up, so we can browse them at our lesiure. If enough profiles go up we can create a sticky thread at the top of the forum for links to all the supplements in alphabetical order.

[BEEF]

Nice job HC! That's exactly what I mean. And as we all know there is plenty of bullshit information circulating the web, and so by having this information here and you guys and gals reading it too, with your experience you'll easily be able to point out if anything is wrong and/or if anything needs to be added I'll try adding to here by searching the web, see what you think.

[BEEF]

Leucine

Introduction
Like its cousin isoleucine, leucine is one of the most common amino acids known in human anatomy and physiology.  In fact, leucine is only second to glycine in terms of amino acid concentrations found in proteins.  L-leucine's chemical composition is identical to that of isoleucine, but yields dissimilar properties due to the different arrangement of atoms.  In humans, leucine remains nutritionally essential.  This nutrient is incapable being synthesized in mammalian tissues.

Leucine continues to work in sync with the amino acids isoleucine and valine, to protect muscle and act as fuel.  These three critical amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, and valine) form the branched-chain amino acids; paramount in promoting "the healing of bones, skin,and muscular tissue."

Leucine Uses
he dietary supplementation of L-leucine for potential benefit in various health conditions remains specific, and varies depending on individual need.  Today, leucine is found in a variety of supplements and protein powders sold at health food stores. This availability has spawned an increased usage among persons involved in athletics which require resistance/aerobic training (i.e. bodybuilding).  Although it has not been proven to enhance or produce significant changes in body composition, the usage among this demographic for blood sugar regulation and muscular recovery, remains quite popular.

Leucine, 1-3 grams daily, may assist the body in completing many specialized processes. [3]  Increasing the body's supply and availability of leucine is beneficial in the growth and repair of vital tissues in the body, growth hormone production, and energy regulation.  Higher levels of leucine may also inhibit muscle wasting that often times result due to periods of high stress and/or severe trauma.

Leucine is also instrumental in treating assorted, chronic conditions. In study, increases in leucine supplementation have been shown to assist individuals suffering from phenylketonuria.  This is a condition in which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine.
Persons suffering from Parkinson's disease have also showed improvement from supplemental leucine; especially when its administration reached levels of nearly 10 grams daily. Although 0.2 grams per kilogram of body weight proved ineffective at treating muscular dystrophy over the course of 1 year, initial findings from current research may approve leucine as a potential treatment for this disease.

Leucine Deficiency
A deficiency of leucine is extremely rare.  Those individuals most at risk for onset include vegetarians with inadequate protein sources, and persons suffering from kidney or liver disease.  Symptoms of a deficiency may include dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and headache; all of which resemble a hypoglycemic condition.

More information about Leucine
In total L-Leucine is around eight percent of the total amino-acid count in your body's protein structures. It is also the forth most concentrated amino-acid in your muscle tissue. As one of the three essential BCAA's, L-Leucine is essential to your basic health. The primary athletic function of L-Leucine are:

   1. Helps preserve lean muscle tissue.
   2. Supplies your body with energy when under stress (i.e. when performing athletic activity)
   3. Preserves muscle glycogen (glucose which is stored in the muscle tissue used to power your muscles)
   4. Maintains nitrogen balance
   5. Enhances thinking abilities when performing intense physical exercise

In a nutshell the effects of L-Leucine in the diet are profound. It is the strongest of the BCAA's and L-Leucine is also what's known as a "limiting nutrient". This means must have enough L-Leucine in proportion to other amino acids in order for your body to make full use of what you eat!

In laymans terms: If you suffer don't have enough L-Leucine in your diet your body will not be able to make use of the protein that you give it - no matter how much protein you consume. Moer importantly unless you have enough L-Leucine in your diet the money you spend on quality food and supplements will be wasted.

[BEEF]

Taurine

Introduction
 The end product of L-cysteine metabolism, taurine is classified as a nonprotein, conditionally essential amino acid.  With the assistance of pyridoxine, humans may produce sulfur-containing taurine from the amino acid cysteine.  Its dietary essentiality, nevertheless, is witnessed in newborn diets, as it is critical for normal retinal and brain development; and in adults whom are either cysteine or vitamin B6 deficient.

Taurine is not a prime component of muscular proteins.  It exists as the principal free intracellular amino acid which stabilizes cell membranes in electrically active tissues such as the brain and heart.  The highest concentrations of taurine in the human body are found in the central nervous system, heart tissues (myocardium), retina, platelets, neutrophils, and skeletal and smooth muscles.  Taurine is important in numerous metabolic processes.  Processes with reference to certain visual pathways, heart, brain and nervous system functioning, and the conjugation of bile acids, all require sufficient amounts of bodily taurine.

Taurine remains unique among all biological amino acids.  First, taurine is a sulfonic acid rather than a carboxylic acid.  Secondly, it is a beta-amino rather than an alpha-amino acid.  And lastly, unlike many other protein amino acids which contain large number of chiral centers, taurine does not have one.  This uniqueness provides the body with certain antioxidant and detoxifying properties, fat absorption and solubilization, and a medium in which the facilitation of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium may take place.

Taurine Food Sources
 Taurine is abundant in nearly all mammalian protein.  Higher sources of this amino acid include egg, fish, meat, and milk products. [2]  Vegetable proteins contain trace amounts of taurine.  This may be of considerable relevance to vegetarians, as these persons may ingest insufficient amounts of the amino acid derivative.  Because of taurine's abundance in the average adult diet, a specific food graph has been omitted from this section.  Of note, there are no known nutrient interactions with dietary or supplementary taurine.

Taurine Uses
 Among taurine's most important benefits is its ability to be used as a therapeutic agent for the heart.  Taurine is often deemed as a safe and effective tool for the management of various forms of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmias. [3]  Persons suffering from this condition may find benefit in  supplementary taurine in dosages ranging from 3 to 6 grams per day, for no less than a three week period.  Taurine assists the heart in regulating blood pressure and platelet aggregation, while reducing serum cholesterol levels. [4-6]  Positive levels of taurine in human subjects have also proved beneficial at regulating intracellular calcium levels of the heart.  Calcium is critical in preventing myocardial damage; a direct result of the cell death attributed to imbalances of this integral mineral. [7]

In vitro studies support the theory that taurine is important in our overall growth and development. [8]  Humans' ability to synthesize dietary taurine is quite limited.  This fact is highlighted in commercially available infant formulas.  Like adults, infants do not readily synthesize or store taurine.  Clinical application has shown taurine deficiency to be responsible for neurological defects, growth retardation, and retinal degeneration. [9]  Therefore, taurine may act as a potent growth modulator in humans.

Individuals with Type I, or insulin-dependant diabetes may find an increased benefit with supplemental taurine.  Taurine has been shown to lessen the problematic symptoms of this disease.  Supplementation with this amino acid has been of assistance in influencing proper blood glucose and insulin levels.  Taurine has also been proven to increase glycogen synthesis and assist in the overall integrity and functioning of the beta cells located in the pancreas. [10]  As well, taurine is instrumental in correcting abnormal plasma and platelet taurine in these persons. [11]

Cystic Fibrosis patients often exhibit a malabsorption of critical nutrients in the ileum, including taurine.  Clinical studies have shown 30 mg/kg of taurine taken daily over a four month period proved significant in replenishing blood levels of taurine and aiding in the decrease in fecal fatty acids. The severity in the impairment of bile acid conjugation and steatorrhea, which many times accompany cystic fibrosis, may also be significantly lessened by supplemental taurine.

Because of the abundance of taurine located in the vertebrate retina, proper intake of taurine may be especially useful in protecting the photoreceptors from damage in this area of the eye. Retinal taurine is also needed to regulate osmotic pressure, stabilize cell membranes, and to act as an antioxidant by scavenging free radicals. Retinitis pigmentosa may also be directly associated to inadequate amounts of bodily taurine, as well as an abnormality in taurine metabolism. 

Areas of ongoing research into taurine supplementation include; alcohol dependence and withdrawal, seizure and hepatic disorders, and Alzheimer's disease.

Taurine Deficiences
Deficiencies of taurine are often times the result of underlying metabolic disorders. Complications due to prolonged and severe deficiencies include; cardiac arrhythmias, platelet formation disorder, physical and emotional stress, intestinal problems, and overgrowth of candida (yeast-like fungus located in the mouth, intestines, and vagina). Deficiencies manifest themselves through the excessive loss of taurine via urine.  Zinc deficiency may also be a direct indicator, as it is in direct correlation to taurine deficiency.  Those at greatest risk for developing a deficiency include diabetics and individuals with substance abuse problems; especially alcoholics.

More about Taurine
he main benefit is that it acts as a cell-volumiser, just like creatine, it draws water into the muscle cell.

It has 3 main properties, these are:

   1. Your muscles appear larger.
   2. Your muscles can exert more force on objects.
   3. Protein synthesis in the muscle cell is increased.

It also mimics the action of Insulin, forcing glucose into cells.

Taurine is naturally found in abundance throughout the body especially in the heart, central nervous system and brain.

The most well known effect of Taurine is the increased energy and well being. You will feel like you can train forever.

Does Taurine Help with cramps?
Taurine is a superb supplement to use to help with cramps. The reason people get cramps is mainly due to lack of minerals such as calcium\potassium\magnesium. One of the major roles of Taurine in the human body is to regulate mitonchodrial (intracellular) calcium homeostasis! In layman language, Taurine makes sure there is enough Calcium going in and out of cells. So what this means is that where the Ca2 levels usually go low and cause you cramp, the presence of taurine ensures that every little bit of Ca2 is put to good use, thus zero cramp for you!

[BEEF]

Alanine Introduction
 Despite its smaller size and structural disadvantages, no amino acid may be more important to protein construction than  Alanine.  Alanine remains the second smallest of all twenty plus amino acids.  Glycine is the only amino that is smaller and simpler in construction than Alanine. It is clear that this nonessential amino acid remains an important element of human muscle tissue, and is integral in the development of proteins throughout our bodies.

First isolated in 1879, alanine is processed from glutamate in muscle cells through a process defined as transamination. Transamination is a complex process in which there is a transfer of an amine group (organic compounds containing nitrogen) of a particular acid to one molecule (ketone acid) on another acid.  This process takes place in alanine, resulting in the creation of pyruvic and glutamic acids.  Alanine is also important because of the liver's ability to transform this simple amino acid into pyruvate.

Pyruvate is the beginning compound responsible for starting the Krebs cycle.  This energy cycle is critical in producing ATP (energy) from specific chemical and enzymatic activities.  Pyruvate may also provide benefits in cellular respiration and aid in the inhibition of body fat.  Alanine is also transferred to a-ketoglutarate, and like pyruvate, is an organic compound that provides for a variety of critical processes in the body.  A-ketoglutarate may provide a beneficial effect on the body's anabolic properties, hormones, and immune system response.

Alanine Uses
 Alanine's role in human physiology remains quite limited.  Its main function remains as a primary builder and regulator of bodily proteins.  Alanine also provides our liver with the ability to produce glucose in times of need.  Glucose metabolism is extremely dependant upon alanine.  Glucose is our main source of energy, and this may explain why scientists believe that this particular nonessential amino acid may assist us in maintaining blood sugar levels.  Alanine may also be a constituent of metabolic processes for Vitamin B5, Coenzyme A, and the essential amino acid, tryptophan.

Alanine is found in all of human muscle and can also be located in many protein rich foods consumed in the human diet.  It is important to note that although muscle may be its primary "resting ground," alanine is not limited to just muscular tissue.  This important amino is also present in intestinal bacteria and prostate fluid.  Research indicates that prostate health may be one of the most important conditions affected by the proper dietary supplementation of this alanine.

Alanine has been used in clinical applications to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or hypertrophy of the prostate gland.  This condition is characterized by the two growth periods of the prostate in male maturity.  The second growth phase of the prostate occurs at the median age of 25 and because of this rapid growth, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is often reported years later.  BPH is unlikely to cause symptoms before the age of 40, but it is estimated that more than 60% of men in their sixties and seventies suffer from the discomfort associated with this condition.

A recent independent study involved 45 men with BPH and concluded that 780mg of supplemented alanine per day, followed by two months of 390 mg, effectively reduced the symptoms and complications of benign prostatic hyperplasia. [2]  *Glycine and glutamic acid were also included in this study. [3]* This may be of critical importance to men, seeming as some 4.5 million American males sought physician assistance for this condition in 2000 alone.

Persons suffering from immunological diseases may also benefit from alanine supplementation. This is due to alanine's ability to stimulate lymphocyte production. It also serves as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, providing for the decreased neurological excitement in those suffering from epilepsy.

More information about Alanine
Increasing the concentration of Carnosine in muscle is vital to athletes because Carnosine increases the ability for your muscle to work harder and perform for longer, by preventing lactic acid build up during intense exercise. Most users notice a reduction in muscle fatigue & also the reduction of effort.

[BEEF]

Have I got the right idea here?

[HARDCORE]

yes you do, but they need to be in their own threads so we can link all of them together in a common sticky thread

[ShoreThing]

I have creatine monohydrate now...think I should get rid of it and buy a CEE?

[BEEF]

I'm not sure on this one, Monohydrate is tried and tested, whereas CEE is something I purchased as it was cheap at the time to try it. I am seeing good results from it, and do feel it when I come off.