tis a metabolite of Leucine....
"One you don’t hear a lot about is A-alpha-hydroxy-isocaproic acid more commonly known as HICA.
HICA is the most recent amino acid to be surrounded with new research relating to augmented muscle development.
During metabolism the Amino Acid L-Leucine is broken down into smaller components. These smaller components are known as ‘metabolites’ of the original compound. HICA is a metabolite of the Amino L-Leucine.
HICA is present when Leucine is burned within the muscle cells. HICA then signals the need to increase the muscles anti-catabolic processes. Recent studies from a Finnish university can be seen below.
In short, those athletes supplementing with HICA added more lean mass and less fat than those athletes not supplementing with HICA. The athletes supplementing with HICA also reported that their muscles were less sore following exercise.
So the studies show athletes using HICA benefited from increased recovery and increased protein synthesis, something we all aim to achieve when training!"