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

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Leucine as a pharmaconutrient in health and disease

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

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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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Background
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Amino Acids as Pharmaco-Nutrients for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
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Authors: van Loon, L. J. C.
Affiliations: Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
Corresponding author: van Loon, Luc J.C.
ORCID: van Loon, Luc J.C.
Venue: Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 2012-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 71-77
ISSN: 1363-1950 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1097/mco.0b013e32834d617a
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: Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › 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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Leucine as a pharmaconutrient in health and disease

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