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leucine

leucine

1 6.0
An important part of protein the body must get from food to build and repair muscles
  • noun
  • /ˈluːsiːn/
  • Specialized
: leucina
  • Athletes often include leucine in their diets to promote muscle growth.
  • leucine substitution

So what you're seeing here is now these meals are meeting a leucine threshold of muscle protein synthesis.

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Examples

  • The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine make up more than one third of muscle protein.

    Blog text (23)
  • The body needs leucine to help build and repair muscle tissue.

  • Essentially, leucine acts as a switch kick starting the muscle protein building process.

  • For 35 years now, it has been known that leucine has anti-catabolic properties.

    Blog text (23)
  • A diet rich in vitamin D and the amino acid leucine has also been shown to increase muscle mass and improve muscle function.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Proteins rich in the essential amino acid leucine may offset muscle loss, promote positive muscle protein balance, and reduce sarcopenia.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Many foods, such as dairy products and meat, provide leucine as an essential amino acid.

Surface Forms

leucine singular
leucines plural

Etymology

Leucine comes from the Greek root leuk- meaning 'white', because scientists first found it as white crystals. That name helps you remember it is a small building block, an essential 'amino acid' that the body must get from food to make proteins.