FAQs
No. OptimalAmino® is not intended to diagnose treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Don't be fooled by other brands that claim to be 3rd-party tested but don't disclose who does the testing, what they are tested for, and if they even passed the "tests!"
OptimalAmino® is EXTENSIVELY tested by multiple third-party, independent laboratories including the most reputable, independent third-party testing and certification organization in the world: NSF International.
All OptimalAmino® powders have earned the prestigious NSF Certified for Sport® certification for quality and safety. Every single batch of OptimalAmino® powder is required to be sent to NSF for rigorous quality and safery testing of more than 290+ possible contaminants and banned substances.
Click here to Verify our NSF Certified for Sport® certification at NSF's website
OptimalAmino® Tablets are rigorously tested for quality and safety by multiple independent laboratories. OptimalAmino® Tablets are currently tested at the following 3rd-party labs:
Certified Laboratories (Carrollton, TX)
Eurofins Nutritional Analysis Center (Des Moines, IA)
Twin Arbor Analytical (San Luis Obispo, CA)
University of California, Davis - Molecular Structure Facility (Davis, CA)
Wow. Where do we even begin?
We regularly highlight published research on Essential Amino Acids (EAA) on our OptimalAmino® Research page.
But here are some highlights:
Essential amino acid ingestion improves muscle protein synthesis in the young and elderly
Essential amino acids regulate muscle protein metabolism in humans
An abundant supply of amino acids enhances the metabolic effect of exercise on muscle protein
Dietary leucine requirement of older men and women is higher than current recommendations
NOTE: We also recommend that EVERYONE read Dr. Robert Wolfe's book A Guide to Amino Acid and Protein Nutrition: Essential Amino Acid Solutions for Everyone (The EAASE Program). It's only $9.99 on Kindle at Amazon.
This comparative, double-blind, triple crossover Net Nitrogen Utilization study determined the percentage of Anabolized Amino Acids (UAA), also known as Net Nitrogen Utilization (NNU) and of Catabolized Amino Acids (UCA), in 66 subjects that were alternatively given the amino acid formula of Master Amino acid Pattern (Diet A), amino acid formula of the hen whole-egg protein (Diet B), and hen whole-egg protein (Diet C) during a twelve-week period.
The results of this trial demonstrated that this optimal amino acid formula provides a Net Nitrogen Utilization (NNU) equivalent to 99%, which means that 99% of its constituent amino acids acted as precursors of the body’s protein synthesis and only 1% of its constituent amino acids generated energy and nitrogen catabolites.
Lucà-Moretti, M. A Comparative, Double-blind, Triple Crossover Net Nitrogen Utilization Study Confirms the Discovery of the Master Amino Acid Pattern. The Annals of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain – VOLUME CXV – Second Issue – MADRID, 1998.
Be sure to look carefully at the serving size. Many of the other EAA supplements claiming 99% utilization that are based on the same research as OptimalAmino® use servings only 1/2 the size of one serving of OptimalAmino®.
Be sure to read the label and compare. If their label says 1 serving is 6.5g and OptimalAmino® says 1 serving is 13g, you'll need to compare the price of their 60 serving container to a 30 serving container of OptimalAmino®.
A comparison of how the price of OptimalAmino® compares against other similar brands:
OptimalAmino® vs Leading MAP-based EAA Supplements and a Leading Whey Protein Isolate. Pricing retrieved from manufacturers' websites on 11/1/2020 and subject to change.
Trademark Legal Notice: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.
We were paying high prices for EAA supplements based on this formula so we set out to provide the best possible EAA supplement at the lowest possible price. We found that most of the comparable EAA products were all retailed for about the same price and most had legacy distribution agreements, resellers, wholesalers, and affiliates that all drove up the final retail price.
Without compromising quality, we have cut all of these extra markups out of our retail price and are selling OptimalAmino® direct to you without any middlemen or markups!
The essential amino acids in OptimalAmino® are produced through a fermentation process where sugars extracted from plants are fed to bacteria that produce specific amino acids as a byproduct.
OptimalAmino® is proudly made in New York!
We chose a leading US-based contract manufacturer to ensure the highest possible quality. The facility OptimalAmino® is produced in is a FDA registered and NSF & cGMP certified facility located in the USA that undergoes regular inspections by NSF to maintain its certification.
OptimalAmino® uses ingredients that are Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA and have no demonstrated adverse effects. We have not seen any negative side effects reported in over 100 clinical trials on EAAs.
OptimalAmino® Tablets:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: None.
OptimalAmino® Berry Lemonade Powder:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (from Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Fruit and Vegetable Juice Powder (Color).
OptimalAmino® OTG Passion Mango Powder:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (from Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Beet Root Powder (Color), Beta Carotene (Color).
OptimalAmino® Sour Green Apple Powder:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (from Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Spirulina Extract (Color), Beta Carotene (Color).
OptimalAmino® Tangerine Powder:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (from Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Beet Root Powder (Color), Beta Carotene (Color).
OptimalAmino® Watermelon Powder:
Ingredients: OptimalAmino® EAA Blend 10g (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Lysine (as L-Lysine HCL), L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Methionine, l-Tryptophan).
Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (from Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Beet Root Powder (Color).
All OptimalAmino® product labels are available in high-resolution on the individual product pages:
OptimalAmino® Berry Lemonade Powder
Additionally, full OptimalAmino® product labels can be found in the Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
OptimalAmino® Powder
NO! Other than the EAAs, OptimalAmino® powder contains only the following ingredients: Citric Acid, Inulin, Natural Flavors, Rebaudioside A (From Stevia Leaf Extract), Silicon Dioxide, Fruit and Vegetable Juice Powder.
OptimalAmino® Tablets
NO! In fact, our OptimalAmino® tablets contain NO ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS. ONLY the OptimalAmino® EAA Blend!
OptimalAmino® Berry Lemonade Powder
Our OptimalAmino® Berry Lemonade powder is a 30 serving container that has a net weight of 390g (13.76 oz). Each 13g serving contains 10g of the OptimalAmino® EAA Blend.
OptimalAmino® Tablets
Our OptimalAmino® Tablets come in a 30 serving bottle containing 300 1g tablets containing only the OptimalAmino® EAA Blend. NO OTHER INGREDIENTS!
OptimalAmino® OTG
Our OptimalAmino® OTG Variety Box contains 30 ultra-convenient, single-serving stick packs in 5 flavors: Berry Lemonade, Passion Mango, Sour Green Apple, Tangerine, and Watermelon and has a net weight of 390g (13.76 oz). Each 13g single-serving stick pack contains 10g of the OptimalAmino® EAA Blend.
The amino acids in OptimalAmino® are "vegan" grade as they are produced through bacterial fermentation from plant-derived sugars.
Question: My OptimalAmino® Tablets have a strong odor and are not the same color as they were a few months ago or in a previous bottle. Why does this happen?
Smell, color, taste. All of these, as with everything in nature, affect supplements in some way. Oxidation, for instance, is one of the processes that can cause many different changes. In chemistry, the oxidation state is a measure of the degree of oxidation of an atom in a chemical compound. With regards to supplements, it is the oxygen altering the appearance of the active ingredients.
An example of this can be the discoloration or "browning" of white tablets. For instance, OptimalAmino® Tablets may discolor over time while they are in contact with oxygen in the bottle. Please be assured that this in no way harms the effectiveness of the product. One of the best examples I can think of to illustrate this is after you slice an apple and leave it exposed to air, the pieces slowly turn brown in color. The apple, however, is completely safe to consume, and few to none of the nutrients have been lost.
Another factor that can affect the taste of our OptimalAmino® powders is growing conditions. The soil, sun, weather conditions and time of year the harvest itself is completed can contribute to color and flavor variations of the ingredients used in flavoring. You may have noticed that in one of your bottles OptimalAmino® powders that the flavor was stronger or weaker than in a previous bottle from a different lot. Nature controlled that outcome, and like that apple slice, the effectiveness has not been harmed.
Unpleasant odor can also occur. However, opening the bottle and letting it stand for several hours may help reduce any unpleasant aroma. The essential amino acid (EAA) methionine has a strong sulfur odor. This is particularly true when the bottle is fresh and unopened. Many say that methionine (because it contains sulfur) smells like rotten potatoes, rotten cabbage, rancid nuts, or old meat. Remember, our OptimalAmino® Tablets are free of any additives like dyes or pigments that could reduce discoloration or a coating/capsule which could contain the unpleasant aroma of methionine. While we strive to take measures to reduce the pungency by including a desiccant packet, you may want to let your bottle of OptimalAmino® Tablets sit opened for a few hours to minimize the odor.
So the next time you open a bottle and the color is slightly off or maybe it does not smell the best, you can be assured that the quality is there. It's just nature playing its part.
As a dietary supplement, take 2-3 scoops of OptimalAmino® in 12-16oz of cold water daily.
As an exercise recovery aid, take 2-3 scoops of in 12-16oz of cold water 30 minutes before resistance training or within 30 minutes of completing endurance exercise.
On hard training days or days of minimal dietary protein intake, take 2-3 scoops up to four times daily.
This will depend on your age, body composition, activity level, and goals. As a protein replacement, one serving (two scoops) of OptimalAmino® can replace up to 58g of protein from less efficient dietary protein sources like plants in helping meet your daily protein requirements.
While sedentary individuals may benefit from just one serving per day, competitive athletes and those with intense fitness regimens may use four to five servings per day. We recommend that you consult with your physician if you have any concerns.
For best taste, we recommend storing your open OptimalAmino® in a cool, dry place and mixing with cold water.
Raw essential amino acids (EAAs) have a very unpleasant taste and the warmer the water the worse they taste. The natural flavoring/sweetener in OptimalAmino® can only do so much to mask the taste of the EAAs but the warmer the water, the less effective they are in masking their strong taste.
For best taste of any of the flavors, we recommend mixing 2 scoops per 10 oz of cold water - the colder the better. Colder water helps mask the naturally bitter taste of amino acids. Some have found that they like to add a touch of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, electrolytes, more water, less water, etc...there are really a lot of ideas out there for how to get each flavor to your liking.
There are also many conversation threads on different people's personal preferences in the OptimalAmino®Facebook group. If you haven't already, please join us in the group!
One of our frustrations that led us to create OptimalAmino® was that the price of the existing, comparable brands was too high and it prevented us from taking as much as we wanted to.
There are no known side effects from taking too much OptimalAmino® but we recommend you consult your physician if you plan to consume more than 4 servings per day.
Probably not. Regardless of your activity level, protein turnover is taking place in your body at a rate of 300-400g per day! While your activity level may be low, your body must still maintain sufficient amino acid levels in your blood to support your organs and other tissues.
Muscle acts as the reservoir for amino acid storage in the body and when blood amino acid levels drop, muscle will be broken down regardless of your activity level. Supplementing between meals and/or before sleep with a 99% utilized EAA supplement like OptimalAmino® will increase blood amino acid levels and trigger the replenishment of muscle protein naturally lost throughout the day and night.
As you can imagine, this becomes even more critical as we age.
Probably not. In addition to the standard protein turnover of 300-400g per day mentioned above, exercise stimulates both muscle protein breakdown and protein synthesis (creation). This turnover of muscle protein, replacing older and poorly functioning muscle fibers with newer and and better functioning muscle fibers, is how we grow stronger.
However, since some of the EAAs released during protein breakdown are degraded (through oxidation) beyond reuse, they cannot be reused to build new muscle protein and will ultimately be excreted as waste. To even just correct the imbalance between muscle protein breakdown and synthesis caused by exercise, you must consume sufficient EAAs in your diet through food or a calorie-efficient supplement such as OptimalAmino®.
Probably not. There are many variations of time-restricted eating like intermittent fasting (in all it's flavors - 18/6, 20/4, etc), One Meal a Day (OMAD), etc and many have reported significant weight loss by following these protocols. However, the role of body protein turnover is often significantly underappreciated in these diets and while significant weight can be lost, this often comes at the expense of muscle as well.
Protein turnover is continuing throughout the day but some of the EAAs broken down from muscle cannot be reused due to oxidation and must be replaced. The negative balance of EAAs in your blood triggers even further muscle breakdown to maintain balance and this can only be reversed through the ingestion of EAAs. While EAAs may be consumed through food or supplements during your eating window, there are limits to the stimulus EAA consumption can provide at one time.
Without taking a calorie-efficient, 99% utilized, IF-friendly EAA supplement like OptimalAmino® outside your eating window, there is a real risk of the undesirable loss of muscle as muscle protein breakdown begins to exceed muscle protein synthesis during time-restricted eating.
Probably not. In addition to the standard protein turnover of ~300g-400g per day, intensive resistance training or endurance exercise increases the rate of muscle protein turnover. The muscle protein broken down as a response to exercise provides EAAs into the blood and allows the synthesis of newer, better functioning protein to replace older muscle fibers that are not as efficient in generating force when they contract.
But not all of the EAAs supplied through turnover are able to be reused and intensive exercise actually leads to a net loss of muscle due to increased turnover. A calorie-efficient EAA supplement like OptimalAmino®, used in conjunction with intensive resistance training or endurance exercise, can reverse the net muscle loss without the excess calories of protein found in food.
Not only can OptimalAmino® be much more convenient than dietary protein for competitive athletes, it can also provide greater control in maintaining body composition.
Payment Methods
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Debit and Credit cards, Amazon Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, and Shop Installments.
No. In order to bring OptimalAmino® to market at the lowest possible price, we have eliminated all hidden markups like "free shipping" and sales promotions.
With OptimalAmino®, you pay the same incredibly low price everyday whether you order just one container or an entire year's supply.
But keep in mind that the shipping costs will be significantly lower per container when you order in bulk as it is a lot less expensive to ship one large box than it is to ship multiple orders.
For example (inside the USA):
1 x container of OptimalAmino® ships by UPS or USPS Priority for $9.00
6 x containers of OptimalAmino® ships by UPS or USPS Priority for $14.00
12 x containers of OptimalAmino® ships by UPS Ground for $18.00
By ordering more than one container at a time, you can reduce the shipping cost per container from $9.00 to less than $1.50!
Orders for OptimalAmino® placed by 12pm EST ship the same business day from our fulfillment center in Virginia. You will receive a tracking number by email (and text message if you choose) as soon as your order ships.
Inside the US: We ship via UPS Ground or USPS Priority depending on which will arrive to you soonest. Most orders are delivered in 1-3 days.
Yes! We ship OptimalAmino® to APO/FPO addresses worldwide!
As a veteran-owned company, we thank you for your service and we're happy to provide a discount to active duty members of the US military and veterans.
Please visit our Military and Veteran ID.me verification page to add this discount automatically at checkout.
Thank you for your service!
OptimalAmino® ships from the USA to most countries in the world. If you are unable to choose your shipping preferred country at checkout, please email us at customerservice@optimallabs.net to let us know and we will add shipping rates for your country.
International taxes might be applied upon receipt depending on your country's tax policy.
European Union: We are now registered to collect VAT in the EU and VAT will be included on all orders up to EUR 150,00 destined for the EU.
Canada: We now ship via DHL to Canada. DHL will collect GST/HST on the purchase price and their customs brokerage fee of $17.50 CAD to be paid prior to delivery. However, orders for personal use of a 90-day supply or less should be exempt from additional import duties. Note: you may also be able to "self-clear" and pay GST in person to avoid DHL's $17.50 CAD customs brokerage fee, please see these helpful instructions.
All Countries:
Customs duty is calculated as a percentage of the customs value of the goods:
The percentage or rate varies depending on the type of goods. You can check the tariff applicable in the TARIC database for EU and Import calculator for USA.
The customs value is made up of: the price paid for the goods, the insurance cost, the shipping cost.
We recommend that all non-US based customers check their country's duty and tax regulations in order to estimate any charges that may be assessed upon delivery.
For the quickest response, please reach out to us by email at customerservice@optimallabs.net
You can also quickly find us in our Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/optimalamino
You can also write to us at:
Optimal Labs, LLC
722 E. Market St. STE 102-V40
Leesburg, VA 20176
USA
From our Refund Policy at: https://optimalamino.com/policies/refund-policy
General
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible to return for a refund, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unopened and unused, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
For health and safety reasons, only unopened, unused products are eligible to be returned for a refund. At our discretion, opened or used products may be eligible to be returned for store credit at OptimalAmino.com.
Orders can only be canceled for a full refund (including taxes and shipping charges) before they have shipped. Simply email us at customerservice@optimallabs.net to request cancelation before shipping or click on the cancel link in your order confirmation email.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Opened items are not returnable for a refund. However, a coupon code may be given for store credit at OptimalAmino.com for authorized returns of opened items.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund to your account.
Store Credit
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the store credit was approved or not. If approved, you will be sent a one-time use coupon code in the amount you paid for the returned item (not including shipping or taxes) that can be used on a future purchase at OptimalAmino.com for our various products.
Starting a Return
To start a return, you can contact us at customerservice@optimallabs.net. If your return is accepted, we will send you instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return questions at customerservice@optimallabs.net.
Thank you for your interest in OptimalAmino® and we are as excited about it as you are.
However, our rock-bottom wholesale-to-consumer pricing does not support providing wholesale accounts or reseller discounts.
Thank you for your interest in OptimalAmino® and we hope that you are enjoying the significant savings it provides vs other leading brands.
Yes! OptimalAmino® has recently launched the OptimalAmino® VIP Program to allow our happiest customers to help spread the word about OptimalAmino®. But to ensure that only people who really love OptimalAmino® are promoting it (and not just influencers hoping to make a quick dollar), only customers who have purchased at least $200 of OptimalAmino® are eligible for consideration to join the OptimalAmino® VIP Program.
If you love OptimalAmino® and want to join the OptimalAmino® VIP Program, please apply here.
As a veteran-owned company, we thank you for your service and we're happy to provide a discount on OptimalAmino® to active duty members of the US military and veterans.
Please visit our Military and Veteran ID.me verification page to add this discount automatically at checkout.
Thank you for your service!