Cited by 119Muscle metabolism and nutritionNutrition and Health in AgingMetabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer

Leucine as a pharmaconutrient in health and disease

van Loon, Luc J.C.·2012·Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Amino acids do not merely represent precursors for de-novo protein synthesis, but also function as nutritional signals regulating various metabolic processes. In fact, ample evidence has been generated to show that various tissues respond to changes in amino acid availability via signal transduction pathways that are also regulated by hormones such as insulin, glucagon, and insulin-like growth factor 1. RECENT FINDINGS: Amino acids, and leucine in particular, can act as strong insulin secretagogues when administered in combination with carbohydrate. Leucine administration can be applied effectively to improve postprandial glycemic control. Furthermore, amino acids have been shown to stimulate mRNA translation, thereby increasing muscle protein synthesis and stimulating net protein accretion in an insulin-independent manner. These anabolic properties of amino acids have been mainly attributed to the essential amino acids, and leucine in particular. In accordance, the recent in-vivo human studies show that leucine ingestion can augment the blunted muscle protein synthetic response to protein or amino acid ingestion in elderly men. SUMMARY: Leucine has been proposed as a promising pharmaconutrient in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia and/or type 2 diabetes. Though there are numerous applications for the proposed benefits of leucine in health and disease, the recent long-term nutritional intervention studies do not confirm the clinical efficacy of leucine as a pharmaconutrient.

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Crossref · 10.1097/mco.0b013e32834d617a

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Authors
van Loon, L. J. C.
Venue
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Published
2012-01
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
71-77
ISSN
1363-1950 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W58502648
Cited by
119
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
FWCI
0.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Keywords
leucine, pharmaconutrients, amino acids, insulin secretion, postprandial glucose control, muscle protein synthesis, mRNA translation, sarcopenia, type 2 diabetes, older men, essential amino acids, signal transduction
MeSH terms
Insulin Secretion, Amino Acids, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Leucine, Muscle Proteins, RNA, Messenger, Protein Biosynthesis, Dietary Supplements, Sarcopenia

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