Dedicated Nutrition BCAA Sensation: The Right Way to BCAA

Dedicated Nutrition has crafted a lovely formula for an intra-workout supplement with BCAA Sensation. Does it live up to the claims of boosting athletic performance and improving recovery all while being carbohydrate free? We’ll go into the nitty gritty of each ingredient present in the formula.

Dedicated Nutrition BCAA Sensation

Now this is a BCAA we can get behind! 4:1:1 ratio, added rhodiola, taurine, and grape seed extract! But wait til you see the flavors….

Let’s Talk Intra-Workouts

An intra-workout supplement’s purpose is self-explanatory: You take it during your workout to improve your performance and reduce fatigue in the gym, while hopefully setting you up for optimal recovery. The ingredients should aborb quickly while not producing any irritation that could distract you from your workout.

Dedicated Nutrition has opted to go for proven ingredients in the formulation of BCAA Sensation, but with a twist that we don’t normally see in a BCAA formula.

There are two things we love about this formula, and as you’ll see in our review below, the flavors are even crazier!

But first, take a look at the prices on PricePlow, sign up for Dedicated Nutrition news alerts, and click to see if there are any coupon-powered deals!

Dedicated Nutrition BCAA Sensation – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

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Our BCAA Sensation Review

A few of the flavors were over the top, but Mike loves this stuff:

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As you’ll see why, it’s pretty simple: high leucine content and rhodiola rosea! So without further ado, let’s jump right into the formula:

Ingredients

No proprietary blends here in the active ingredients, so thanks to Dedicated Nutrition for keeping it real and making our jobs easier:

  • 4:1:1 BCAA Blend (5g of Leucine, 1.25g of isoleucine, 1.25g of valine)

    Dedicated Nutrition BCAA Sensation Ingredients

    The only way this could be better is if Dedicated Nutrition comes out with an EAA Sensation with some of the same add-ons!! Outside of that, this is a nearly picture-perfect BCAA supplement for us!

    While each amino acid we’re discussing here is separate on the label, it makes much more sense to analyze them together. Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are the fundamental BCAAs and the obvious focus of a BCAA supplement. The best part? You’re getting a 4:1:1 ratio in BCAA Sensation.

    Well, awesome. Leucine is amazing, so this is what we often want! Right? While most of the valid research on BCAAs available stick to a 2:1:1 ratio, with isoleucine and valine at half the leucine dose, leucine is indeed the most anabolic of the three!

    But there’s little specific research if any on a 4:1:1 ratio of BCAAs, so the jury is out on how effective this formulation could be – although theoretically this is where we like it. While it may seem logical that doubling the ratio would lead to some improvement, it could also flush the effectiveness of the other two aminos a bit.

    In a world chock full of 2:1:1 aminos, and given that there’s a serious 7.5g total BCAA (as opposed to many competitors at 5g total), it’s like they basically doubled leucine and left the other two the same, so this is right up our alley.

    If the 4:1:1 ratio is as effective as the traditional 2:1:1 ratio, the BCAA blend should provide you with heightened recovery, decreased time between sets, and heightened fat oxidation potential [1,2]. Sweet deal if you ask us, and keto dieters should be happy because leucine is the BCAA that’s exclusively ketogenic!

  • Taurine (1000mg)

    Taurine Benefits

    Taurine’s Benefits (endurance-wise) can be seen after a single use!

    Taurine is a favored child of the PricePlow team. At even small does, taurine is very effective at improving endurance in athletic populations.[3] There’s evidence suggesting that taurine can help improve hydration as well.[4]

    It is also not dose-dependant, so a low dose of taurine will provide the same benefits of much higher doses – although 1g here is our preferred go-to dose, so this works out well too. Taurine even works acutely, so you can take it before a workout and immediately experience the benefits.

    If you have cardio to do, BCAA Sensation should help carry you through, especially with this full gram dose.

  • L-Citrulline Malate (1000mg)

    L-Citrulline is a great ingredient for recovery. Primarily acting as a vasodilator by boosting nitric oxide levels (when dosed higher than this, mind you), citrulline will make it easier for nutrients to get to your muscles during intense exercise.

    Dedicated Nutrition Women

    A feel-good BCAA that can be enjoyed by anyone!

    While the dose present in BCAA sensation is much lower than the studied dose, this is actually a blessing in disguise, and nothing new to BCAA supplements which usually don’t have whopping doses of the ingredient. It’s typically more of an “endurance assistant” to pair with a pre workout supplement (in this case, Dedicated Nutrition’s Unstoppable).

    Citrulline should help you out with muscle soreness, overall feelings of fatigue during your exercise endeavours, and can even significantly improve your overall training volume.[4] Since training volume = hypertrophy, citrulline can be an indirect ticket to gainstown, assuming you get after it hard and eat right, so it’s good to see.

    It’s important to note that Citrulline Malate is half L-Citrulline, half malic acid, which may provide auxiliary benefits in the krebs cycle, but that’s to be determined. Overall, you’re getting a “pre workout pump and endurance assistant” with this dose.

  • Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract (3% Rosavins & 1% Salidrosides) (100mg)

    Rhodiola Rosea is one of the most effective Ayurvedic herbs on the planet. Much like it’s brother, Ashwagandha, Rosea is an adaptogen, which means it helps combats fatigue and stress.[6] As an adaptogen, Rosea will let you go harder for longer without reaching the “burn-out” stage, and it simply feels good to many others. Beyond its anti-fatigue effects, Rosea is simply a healthy compound. It’s associated with cognitive improvements and even longevity improvements when supplemented, but often in higher doses.[7,8]

    Rhodiola Rosea

    Rhodiola Rosea: Our favorite feel-good herb with some additional workout boosting properties

    Many intra workouts are not adding this, so on top of the 4:1:1 BCAA ratio, it’s a unique feel-good play that has made us fall in love with BCAA Sensation.

  • Grape Seed Extract (90% Proanthocyanidins) (100mg)

    Grape Seed Extract provides a slew of health benefits, it acts as a decent anti-estrogen agent and may even improve blood flow,[9,10] the latter of which is likely the intended purpose for having it in here. This should work real well with the citrulline present in improving blood flow to ensure that nutrients are making it to your cells!

    Like rhodiola, this is another unique addition that isn’t in many pre workout supplements, so most people will get added benefits that they otherwise wouldn’t have seen here. Add-ons like these are always welcomed in intra workouts here!

    However, Grape Seed Extract has terrible bioavailability.[11] Thankfully, Dedicated Nutrition overcomes this later in the formula.

  • Sodium, Calcium, and Potassium Phosphate (100mg each)

    BCAA Sensation Simeon Panda

    Dedicated Workouts call for proper hydration!

    It’s best to look at the inclusion of sodium and phosphate in BCAA Sensation as an “electrolyte replenisher”. Strength athletes, cardio athletes, and even professional gaming athletes all have one problem in common: sweat. When we sweat, our bodies lose water-soluble vitamins and minerals.[12] Dedicated Nutrition did the smart thing and included both sodium, calcium, and potassium to replenish any minerals you lost during your gym session.

    Pro-Tip: Using Salt for Size

    Sodium also may help you produce “artificial bloat” to improve your leverages during exercise which may provide some ergogenic benefits. For strength athletes that are cutting, throwing in some salt into your pre or intra workout beverage may help you feel “bigger” during the session.

  • AstraGin (Astragalus & Panax Notoginseng Extract) (50mg)

    Time to amplify those aminos!

    Astragin brings BCAA Sensation full circle by enhancing the absorption of every other ingredient in the formula. Made by NuLivScience, the AstraGin present in BCAA Sensation should help the body use Grape Seed Extract, Citrulline Malate, and everything else present in the intra-workout more efficiently. [13] It’s actually a blend of panax notoginseng and astragalus, which may bring a bit of adaptogenic properties on their own alongside that rhodiola – but it’s mostly used for the “ingredient amplification”.

    The AstraGin helps BCAA Sensation fall into our criteria of a quality intra-workout that goes the extra mile by making the formula quick and easy to digest. A perfect addition we’re seeing a lot lately.

Some crazy initial flavors!

Dedicated Nutrition launched BCAA Sensation in the United States with five very unique flavors, and the complete up-to-date list is below:

    Per our review above, these flavors are all very intense and each lives up to its name, and then some. For the long-run use of a full-tub, however, Rainbow Candy and Mango Strawberry have been our two go-to’s.

    Note that Mojito Lime is the one flavor with artificial color (Blue #1 added), and is quite minty!

    Conclusion: A Sensational BCAA

    BCAA Sensation is a classic example of a BCAA done properly. It has feel-good ingredients that will improve your workout in the present while improving your recovery after the session. It has BCAAs in a ratio we appreciate, and we the add-ons of Rhodiola, Grape Seed Extract, and AstraGin are extremely welcomed and not seen in many other BCAAs. In a word where everything is moving towards more complete EAAs, this is how you BCAA!

    Dedicated Nutrition

    Welcome to the States, Team Dedicated!

    The only other complaint we have is also an advantage: sometimes we like carbs intra workout, but in those cases, you’ll just need to add your own (such as highly branched cyclic dextrin).

    If your workouts have you sore for days, give BCAA Sensation a shot – especially if you’re a keto dieter – but pick your flavor wisely, because they pack a punch!

    Dedicated Nutrition BCAA Sensation – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

    Get Price Alerts

    No spam, no scams.

    Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

    Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

    BCAA Sensation

    Sensational!

    About the Author: Mike Roberto

    Mike Roberto

    Mike Roberto is a research scientist and water sports athlete who founded PricePlow. He is an n=1 diet experimenter with extensive experience in supplementation and dietary modification, whose personal expertise stems from several experiments done on himself while sharing lab tests.

    Mike's goal is to bridge the gap between nutritional research scientists and non-academics who seek to better their health in a system that has catastrophically failed the public.

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    References

    1. Blomstrand, E., Hassmen, P., Ek, S., Ekblom, B., & Newsholme, E. A. (1997). Influence of ingesting a solution of branched-chain amino acids on perceived exertion during exercise. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 159(1), 41-49. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201x.1997.547327000.x https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9124069
    2. Wiśnik, P., Chmura, J., Ziemba, A. W., Mikulski, T., & Nazar, K. (2011). The effect of branched chain amino acids on psychomotor performance during treadmill exercise of changing intensity simulating a soccer game. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 36(6), 856-862. doi:10.1139/h11-110 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22050133
    3. Waldron, M., Patterson, S. D., Tallent, J., & Jeffries, O. (2018). The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29546641
    4. Zhang, M., Izumi, I., Kagamimori, S., Sokejima, S., Yamagami, T., Liu, Z., & Qi, B. (2004). Role of taurine supplementation to prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy young men. Amino acids, 26(2), 203-207; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15042451
    5. Pérez-Guisado, J., & Jakeman, P. M. (2010). Citrulline Malate Enhances Athletic Anaerobic Performance and Relieves Muscle Soreness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(5), 1215-1222. doi:10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181cb28e0 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20386132
    6. Edwards, D., Heufelder, A., & Zimmermann, A. (2012). Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Rhodiola rosea Extract WS 1375 in Subjects with Life-stress Symptoms – Results of an Open-label Study. Phytotherapy Research, 26(8), 1220-1225. doi:10.1002/ptr.3712 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22228617
    7. Wiegant FA, et al. Plant adaptogens increase lifespan and stress resistance in C. elegans. Biogerontology. (2009)
    8. Spasov, A., Wikman, G., Mandrikov, V., Mironova, I., & Neumoin, V. (2000). A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine, 7(2), 85-89. doi:10.1016/s0944-7113(00)80078-1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10839209
    9. Silva, J. M., Rigaud, J., Cheynier, V., Cheminat, A., & Moutounet, M. (1991). Procyanidin dimers and trimers from grape seeds. Phytochemistry, 30(4), 1259-1264. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(00)95213-0 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031942200952130
    10. Clifton, P. M. (2004). Effect of Grape Seed Extract and Quercetin on Cardiovascular and Endothelial Parameters in High-Risk Subjects. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2004(5), 272-278. doi:10.1155/s1110724304403088 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082891/
    11. Sano, A., Yamakoshi, J., Tokutake, S., Tobe, K., Kubota, Y., & Kikuchi, M. (2003). Procyanidin B1 Is Detected in Human Serum after Intake of Proanthocyanidin-rich Grape Seed Extract. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 67(5), 1140-1143. doi:10.1271/bbb.67.1140 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12834296
    12. Tang, Y., Wang, D., Li, J., Li, X., Wang, Q., Liu, N., . . . Li, Y. (2016). Relationships between micronutrient losses in sweat and blood pressure among heat-exposed steelworkers. Industrial Health INDUSTRIAL HEALTH, 54(3), 215-223. doi:10.2486/indhealth.2014-0225 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4939859/
    13. NuLivLifestyle; “AstraGin FAQ”; https://www.nulivlifestyle.com/astragin_faq.php

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