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Muscle & Workout Supplements (Creatine and BCAAs)

Find the best muscle and workout supplements with creatine and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), tests for contamination with dicyandiamide, evidence for increasing muscle strength and endurance, improving your workout, dosage, safety, side effects and more. Find out which ones passed or failed our tests and why.

Muscle & Workout Supplements (Creatine and BCAAs) Review

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Product Review

Protein Powders, Shakes, and Meal Replacements Review

Find Out Which Protein Products Passed or Failed Our Tests

Product Review

Olive Leaf Extract Supplements Review

Learn What Olive Leaf Does and the Best Brands

Product Review

Lion's Mane and Chaga Supplements Review

Read Labels Carefully -- Many Can Mislead

Lion's Mane and Chaga Supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com

Product Review

Electrolytes & Sports Drinks Review

See Which Sports Drinks, Powders, and Pills Deliver the Right Electrolytes

Product Review

Lavender and Tea Tree Essential Oils Review

Oils Tested for Authenticity and Purity

CL Answer

Do essential amino acid (EAA) supplements help build muscle better than dietary protein or protein supplements?

Comparison of essential amino acids vs dietary protein and protein supplements for building muscle.

Hands holding essential amino acid capsules and protein powder

Clinical Update

1/24/2016

Leucine Protects Muscle In Middle-Aged

A recent study found that active, middle-aged people restricted to bed rest for several days lost significantly less muscle mass and function if given a leucine supplement along with their meals. Fat gain was also reduced. Get the details, including our tests of leucine-containing supplements, in the Muscle Enhancers Review >>

Clinical Update

2/23/2022

Leucine for Muscle Loss?

Did leucine supplementation improve physical function in people ages 70 and older with age-related muscle loss in a recent study? Find out in the Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Also see our answer to the question: Which vitamins and minerals should someone over 70 take?

Clinical Update

9/15/2020

Preventing Muscle Loss with Leucine?

Do supplements with leucine (a branched-chain amino acid or BCAA) prevent muscle loss when muscles are immobilized (such as in a leg brace)? See what a recent study showed in the What It Does section of our Muscle & Workout Supplements Review.

Product Review

PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone) Supplements Review

Learn What PQQ Does and Which PQQ Supplements are Best

Product Review

L-Lysine Supplements Review

Read L-Lysine Labels Carefully. Some Can Fool You.

CL Answer

Which supplements may benefit people with essential tremor, and which should be avoided?

Learn about supplements used for treating essential tremor, including caprylic acid (also called octanoic acid), thiamin (vitamin B1), cannabidiol (CBD), GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and branched-chain amino acids. Find out which work and which don't. Also find out which supplements and food may make essential tremors worse.

Man with essential tremor holding a cup with his right hand and bracing his wrist with his left hand

CL Answer

Does Alpha Brain really improve memory, focus and cognition?

Find out if Alpha Brain really improves memory, focus and cognition. See the clinical evidence and get details about Alpha Brain ingredients, as well as potential side effects and drug interactions. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Bottle of Alpha Brain capsules

Product Review

Berberine and Goldenseal Supplements Review

Tests Reveal the Best and Worst Berberine and Goldenseal Products

Product Review

Resveratrol Supplements Review (From Red Wine, Knotweed, and Other Sources)

See Which Resveratrol Supplements Were Best In Our Tests and Comparisons. Learn What Resveratrol Can and Can't Do.

Review of resveratrol supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com, including ratings and comparisons of product quality, price, and ingredients.

Product Review

Weight Loss Supplements Review (7-Keto DHEA, Forskolin and Stimulant Blend Supplements)

Choose the Best Weight Loss Supplement. Be Careful With Weight Loss Supplements — Few Pass Quality Testing and Safety Review.

Weight Loss Supplements Tested by ConsumerLab.com

CL Answer

Supplements for Age-Related Muscle Loss

Find out if protein supplements, fish oil, vitamin D, and other supplements can help older adults build and maintain muscle, and help prevent age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).

Product Review

Zinc Supplements and Lozenges Review

Find the Best Zinc Supplements and Lozenges. Have a Cold? See CL's Top Picks Among Zinc Supplements and Lozenges.

Zinc Supplements and Lozenges Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

Product Review

Iron Supplements Review (Iron Pills, Liquids and Chews)

See Which Iron Supplements Are CL's Top Picks for Different Needs

Product Review

Magnesium Supplements Review (Including Calcium, Boron, and Vitamins D & K)

Find Out What Magnesium Does, Who Needs It, and Our Top Picks Among Supplements

Recalls & Warnings

April 29, 2014

Seller of B Vitamins, CoQ10, Amino Acids and Other Supplements Warned for Manufacturing Violations and Drug Claims

On April 1, 2014, the FDA issued a warning letter to Bio-Recovery, Inc.