GLOSSARY

Anti-Catabolic describes reducing certain breakdown processes in a stated context. On sport products it is descriptive or promotional, not proof of efficacy, dose or guaranteed muscle retention.

Body proteins are continually synthesised and broken down, supporting renewal and tissue quality control. Breakdown is not always harmful, and synthesis is not exclusively muscle enlargement. Food, training and rest can alter both rates; interpretation depends on the tissue and time interval rather than treating either process as uniformly good or bad.

Net balance is synthesis minus breakdown for the same tissue and interval. Short-term positivity means synthesis exceeded breakdown, not that all mass gained is muscle. Whole-body and muscle balances can also differ, so the measured pool and units must be identified before translating a result into a claim about muscle gain.

Enough energy and carbohydrate appropriate to training can reduce reliance on amino acids as fuel. Extra protein alone cannot correct every consequence of severe underfeeding. Protein sparing also does not remove dietary protein needs or completely stop normal tissue breakdown; it describes a change in how resources are used.

New protein synthesis requires the necessary amino acid mixture, not only activation of a cellular signal. Leucine participates in signalling but cannot replace missing essential substrates. BCAAs supply only part of that set and should not automatically be equated with sufficient food protein or a complete essential-amino-acid supplement.

More protein after needs are met does not necessarily produce more adaptation and can displace carbohydrate, fibre-rich foods or other priorities. Safety depends on dose, duration and health. Lack of one definitive universal upper limit does not establish unlimited safety, and healthy-athlete targets should not be transferred automatically to every medical condition.

A rise in synthesis over laboratory hours is not identical to guaranteed muscle or strength gain over months. Short-term measurements can reflect repair, remodelling or other adaptations. Long-term progress, training, energy and dietary adherence must accompany acute findings when judging a practical training outcome rather than relying on one favourable time point.