This is not a new discovery. In fact, D-aspartic acid has been known since the early part of the 1800s. At that time, scientists were studying asparagus juice to understand its components.
They realized that this acid is actually produced naturally inside the body. Since then, they classified it as a kind of amino acid. However, this particular amino acid has only gotten attention for its performance-enhancing benefits on athletes.
Benefits Of D-Aspartic Acid
The research is still in its preliminary stage. Scientists say that they still have a lot of things to uncover about the benefits of D-Aspartic acid.
For example, there is the question of taking “L-aspartic” acid, and this is the mirror-image chemical of D-aspartic acid. Does it offer the same performance boost as its reverse counterpart. However, most scientists agree that these two different forms of the base – aspartic acid – serve different functions in the body.
We also have information on other good testosterone boosters, and you can learn more about both the “D” and “L” forms of this amino acid here.
Here’s how this works. All of the different amino acids, with the exception of glycine, are “CHiRAL” molecules. This means that they exist in two types that each mirror each other. The “L-type” of aspartic acid is in 20 of the amino acids that are used as the building blocks to make protein. For proper formation of muscle tissues, hair, skin, and figernails, this amino acid has to be there. It also is essential to many of the body’s key enzyme processes.
However, the “D-Type” is only found in lesser quantities. It mostly accumulates inside of the pineal gland, pituitary gland, and the male’s testes. The main purpose of this amino acid is in the regulation of hormone production. This makes it very important for athletic performance than the L counterpart. It has an impact on many different hormones, but scientific studies have documented this particular form of the amino acid as an effective booster for testosterone, and that is why it is used by male athletes.
D-Aspartic Acid: Male Benefits
In one study, male test subjects has a 42 percent increase in testosterone when they took 3.12 grams of D-aspartic acid for a period of 12 days.
The supplement caused the secretion of certain hormones that cause the body to secrete more HGH, or human growth hormone. This increase in HGH helped increase lean body mass, or muscle mass. In addition, it improved cardiac output and athletic performance. In one particular study, this increase in HGH helped raise the VO2max, or oxygen utilization ability, from about 79 percent to about 96 percent.
It is also possible that this hormone could serve as a potent treatment for infertility in men. After it is produced, this acid is secreted into the blood. It is needed for incorporation into sperm before they exit the testes. In any case, scientists have noted that males who suffered from different types of infertility problems had a single thing in common: They had decreased levels of this amino acid in their fluid.
How To Achieve Top Results From D-Aspartic Acid
The exact optimum dose is still being debated. In most cases, a dose between one and three grams a day has been studied. Doses slightly over three grams a day have also been observed in studies, and they did not produce any adverse side effects.
The dosing schedule for this amino acid is also sometimes debates. While some experts say that doses should be taken for four to twelve weeks, and then they should be stopped for two to four weeks. However, other experts say that the supplement should be consumed for at least ninety days to really have a positive effect. Still, the most popular recommendation is taking the supplement for twelve days on and twelve days off. That means, the supplement should be taken for twelve days, not taken for the next twelve days, and so on.
While this is debated because some people don’t think 12 days is long enough, there have been studies that have demonstrated that it is. This might be why the “12 on and 12 off” course of action is the most common.