L- Leucine
Specifications of L- Leucine
Chemical Name: (S)-2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid.
Molecular Formula: C6H13NO2.
Molecular Weight: 131.17 g/mol.
CAS Number: 61-90-5.
Physical Properties
Appearance: White powder to crystalline solid, sometimes described as white powder to lustrous plates or crystals.
Solubility: SSoluble in water (~18.9 to 22.4 g/L at 20 °C), soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid and alkali hydroxides; sparingly soluble in alcohol.
Melting Point: 290 °C
Nutritional Information
From dietary sources, leucine intake recommendations for adults are approximately 39 to 55 mg per kg of body weight per day, translating to about 3 to 4.4 grams daily for an average adult weighing 80 kg (about 175 lbs). Foods rich in leucine include whey protein, soy, beef, peanuts, fish, eggs, and various seeds and legumes, where leucine content ranges widely from roughly 0.2 to 1.2 grams per 100 grams depending on the food
L- Leucine Benefits
L-Leucine benefits primarily relate to its crucial role in muscle growth, repair, and metabolic health. Key benefits include:
Muscle Growth and Protein Synthesis: Leucine strongly stimulates muscle protein synthesis by activating the mTOR signaling pathway, which regulates muscle repair and hypertrophy (growth). This effect helps increase muscle mass and strength, particularly when combined with resistance training.
Muscle Maintenance: Leucine helps prevent muscle protein breakdown, supporting muscle maintenance especially in older adults or individuals recovering from injury or illness.
Improved Muscle Recovery: Supplementing with leucine shortly after exercise can enhance muscle recovery and reduce muscle soreness, enabling better training consistency and performance.
Metabolic Health: Leucine may improve lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity, benefiting metabolic conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Functional Improvements: In elderly or clinical populations, leucine supplementation has been shown to increase lean body mass, muscle strength, and physical function such as gait speed and stair climbing ability.
Additional Potential Benefits: Leucine may also support healing of skin and bones and increase the production of human growth hormone, contributing to overall growth and repair processes.