The present invention provides a nutritionally useful highly concentrated amino acid solution. In an embodiment, the formulation has a broad amino acid profile that is both high in branched chain amino acids and high in overall percent of amino acids. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of selecting the amino acid profile so as to obtain a maximum amino acid concentration. To this end, a stable amino acid solution having a nutritionally appropriate balance of amino acids comprising a total amino acid concentration equal to or greater than 18% (wt/vol) is provided. In an embodiment, an amino acid solution is provided comprising approximately 18 to about 22% branched chain amino acids (wt/wt); and a total amino acid concentration equal to or greater than 18% (wt/vol).