Does leucine help build muscle?

Amino acids serve as the building blocks for muscle growth or hypertrophy, particularly the essential amino acids. But, one of those, leucine, plays a unique role in the activation of the mTOR pathway, a key signaling system leading to muscle protein synthesis.

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

Plotkin et al., 2021. doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0356

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

Thanks for the feedback. The 2-3 g per day comes from the article cited but if you have another source showing that more is effective I'd love to take a look. Always learning. Thanks again. @@mattconverse6485

[@katk1958]

I think I might be suffering from steroid myopathy, with Myasthenia Gravis being the original underlying disease that was the reason for prednisone in the first place. I now have confirmed adrenal insufficiency. I've started leucine powder, along with whey protein powder. I'm virtually bed-bound with horrific proximal weakness. I've got to figure all this out myself because I can't get out of my apt now. I'll obviously have to try other things, too, but I need every bit of help I can get.

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

That’s sounds awful. I can’t imagine what you are going through. I hope you find answers that will give you your strength back.

[@Movement_Pill]

wow great video, good information, and you explained it simply. You just got a new subscriber. I also have one question, one scoop of whey protein has about 2.5-2.7 grams of leucine in it already, so what's the benefit to supplimenting with luecine exclusively

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

Welcome! It's great to have you following along. You make an excellent point. Whey not only has enough leucine but all the other essential amino acids as well. Some people feel they need moe leucine so they take it along with whey or they get their other amino acids from a non-animal source which doesn't have as much leucine.

[@Movement_Pill]

@@drjakefitnessfacts thanks

[@norvillerodgersspeaks]

Jokes getting better

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

Thanks!

[@ImaroFL]

Is it ok to take Leucine as an 17 year old boy

[@drjakefitnessfacts]

There's not enough research to say for certain if leucine is safe for a 17 year old but it's also likely unnecessary. A diet with lean sources of protein will provide all the necessary amino acids. If any things, a whey supplement (that is high in leucine and other essential amino acids)-in moderate amounts-would be better than just leucine. Thanks for watching.

[@ImaroFL]

@@drjakefitnessfacts Ok thanks