BSN Amino X Effervescent BCAA Powder Review – Better than Xtend?

This site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Read Our Disclosures

BSN Amino X is an effervescent caffeine-free BCAA powder, with a 10 gram blend containing branched-chain amino acids in what many believe to be the optimal 2:1:1 formula (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine). But with over 1400 highly rated reviews on Amazon, what is it that sets Amino X apart from other BCAA supplements?

Each 10 gram serving also contains the amino acids L-Alanine, Taurine, and L-Citrulline, as well as a healthy dose of vitamin D, all while keeping the carbohydrates under 1 gram. So how does this compare to BCAA powders and softgels from other top rated supplement companies, such as MusclePharm and Scivation?

In this review we’ll look at just how much amino acids your body really needs to support your level of training. This includes ingredients, serving size, amino ratios, delivery method (pills, softgels, powders), and price.

Whether BSN Amino X is the best BCAA for you depends on if your fitness goal is to improve overall health, get stronger for powerlifting, recover faster and increase functional power for CrossFit, or support another area of physical fitness.

BSN Amino X Ingredients

Each serving of Amino X contains a 10 g dose of Amino Acid Interfusion. This contains the following:

BCAA Blend

BCAA stands for Branched-Chain Amino Acid, which is a subgroup of amino acids made up of L-Leucine, L-Valine, and L-Isoleucine. The chemical structure of BCAAs is what makes their function unique and beneficial for fitness.

BCAAs have been studied due to their ability to aid the muscle during and after exercise. When we perform exercise, our muscles may experience breakdown, and BCAAs are catabolized, or “used up”. This may be problematic for muscle buildup and for recovery.

Supplementing with BCAAs beneficial before and after exercise helps reduce the extent of exercise-induced muscle damage, and promotes a healthy immune system.

Some websites show BSN have opted for a 2:1:1 ratio of Leucine:Isoleucine:Valine, but this isn’t confirmed on the tub we bought in the USA. In the UK and Europe we’ve seen BSN Amino X with a 2:1:1 ratio, where you get 2 g of leucine, 1 g of valine, and 1 g isoleucine per scoop. However, the UK formula didn’t include citrulline, and instead listed L-arginine in its place.

In the same UK version, L-alanine was listed at 3.5 g, L-arginine at 45 mg, and taurine at 2.5 g.

BCAA supplements generally include a higher dose of leucine because larger doses (2-4 g per day) are beneficial for protein synthesis and muscle strength.

One such study found that 4g/day of L-leucine supplementation was enough to enhance strength performance during a 12-week resistance training program.

Efforsorb™ EnDura Composite (2g)

In addition to the amino acids, BSN Amino Acid X has a patented component called Efforsorb EnDura, which contains citric acid. This is an important component in metabolic cycles that produces energy.

EnDura also contains malic acid – which may increase tolerance to exercise, and bicarbonate, which can help to improve exercise performance, especially for intense, short-term exercise.

The final ingredient in Efforsorb EnDura is Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D 500 IU, 125%). Vitamin D deficiency is higher than most people think. In northern countries, their skin usually doesn’t get enough sun exposure for their skin to convert the inactive form of Vitamin D into its active form.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to muscle pain and weakness, as it may influence muscle contraction. For this reason, it is important to supplement if you don’t think you are getting enough vitamin D.

Who is it designed for?

This supplement is best for those people doing exercise for long periods of time, especially those that work the muscle with the intention of increasing lean muscle mass.

The focus has very much been kept on exercise performance, with none of the electrolyte formulas or glutamine that pushes the price up in other supplements. This helps to keep the price competitive, while still delivering a high dose of BCAAs.

When is the best time to take it?

If you would like to use it to support muscle endurance, it is recommended to take it during your workout. If you would like to use to support recovery, you can take it immediately after your exercise routine.

Although Amino X can also be taken pre-workout, BSN also sell a version called ‘BSN Amino X Edge’, which might be a better option.

Edge contains 325 mg of an Energy and Focus Blend, made up of caffeine anhydrous, Longan extract, and Lindera extract. The last two ingredients are famous Chinese herbal medicines, that are commonly used to promote and regulate the circulation of vital energy.

Note: After 12 weeks of use, BSN recommend discontinuing for at least 4 weeks before starting a fresh cycle.

Amino X vs. MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2

MusclePharm BCAA 3:1:2 Powder contains 3g, 1g, and 2g of Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine, respectively. This ratio is unique, and currently patent-pending. While there are not many scientific studies aimed at determining the ideal ratio, the normal ratio provided by BCAA supplements is 2:1:1.

MusclePharm BCAA does not contain any other active ingredients, besides the BCAAs.

What flavors and sizes are available?

The flavors available for BSN Amino X Effervescent are:

Any of these flavors are also available in two sizes: 30 servings and 70 servings. The serving size is 1 scoop (14.5 grams), and it is recommended to have one serving a day with cold water or another beverage.

Save money with Amazon

If you’re looking to save money on your monthly supplement order, you might want to consider the Amazon Subscribe & Save program.

Subscribe & Save allows you to unlock savings of up to 15% on a wide range of sports nutrition products, including BSN Amino X (selected flavors only).

You can save 5% with a subscription to 1 product, or save the full 15% by subscribing to 5 products, provided they’re all delivered to the same address. The delivery schedule can be set from monthly, up to once every 6 months.

Although 5 products might sound a lot, if you already supplement with a protein powder, multivitamin, creatine, BCAA, and glutamine, the savings can soon add up.

Who are BSN?

BSN (Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition, Inc.) has been producing sports nutrition supplements since 2001. Today they continue to develop and distribute products designed for health and wellness, strength training, bodybuilding and physique development, and endurance.

Since then BSN has risen to be a global leader in the industry, with products shipped to over 40,000 retailers nationally, and distributed to over 90 countries worldwide. In recent years they have also endorsed some of the biggest names in bodybuilding, MMA, and fitness, including Ronnie Coleman, Scott Herman, India Paulino, and Conor McGregor.

Their extensive product line currently spans protein powders and bars, pre-workout/energy boosters, recovery/performance enhancers, and their bestselling DNA Series, which includes Creatine DNA™ and Glutamine DNA™.

But knowing what’s contained in each of these supplements and how they’re combined with other key ingredients like protein and carbs isn’t always easy. That’s why we recommend taking a look at our BSN supplement guide, which includes a summary of the health benefits, a list of sizes and flavors that are available, and dosages for the main ingredients.

We’ve also added in-depth reviews and comparisons with other top rated nutrition companies, to guarantee you only buy the best supplement for your fitness goals.