THE BOTTOM LINE ON BCAAS
My advice is to stick with BCAA products that use a 2:1:1 ratio providing at least 1 gram of isoleucine and 1 gram of valine per dose. But, if you're looking for optimal gains, your best bet is to get in at least 3 grams of leucine per dose. It's the suggested minimum amount you need to optimize mTOR activation and maximize muscle protein synthesis.
I recommend you take in 5 g of BCAAs at a 2:1:1 ratio (so you get 3 g leucine, and over 1 g of isoleucine and valine) about 30 minutes before your workouts.
Follow that workout with another dose of at least 5 g of BCAAs. Here again, a 2:1:1 ratio is good. Even a 3:1:1 ratio, which will give you a bit more post-workout leucine to initiate protein synthesis, will work well. Just be sure that you're getting at least 1 g of isoleucine valine after your workouts, along with at least 3 g of leucine.
Keep in mind that this should be in addition to pre- and post-workout shakes, or one large protein shake that you sip on before, during, and after the workout. This will bump your BCAA content up a bit, but don't worry: You still need those free BCAAs from a BCAA supplement to truly maximize energy and muscle growth.