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Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Leucine

Leucine is an essential amino acid that signals muscle cells to build new protein. People mostly look at it for age-related muscle loss, where it may help overcome the blunted muscle response of aging, and the evidence is moderate across about 600 participants. Other findings are thinner: body fat and liver enzymes showed no clear difference in very limited research on 26 people.

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
3
Outcomes
15
Graded outcomes
0004

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

3 conditions

Muscle Size Strength

Muscle Size Strength: outcomes studied for Leucine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Body Fat

No effect

NoneNo effect26 people
Liver Enzymes

No effect

NoneNo effect26 people
Rating of Perceived ExertionImproves (the measure goes up)1 study26 people

Studies that measured rating of perceived exertion

Muscle MassImproves (the measure goes up)26 people
Power OutputImproves (the measure goes up)26 people
General Athletic Performance: outcomes studied for Leucine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Body Fat

No effect

NoneNo effect26 people
Rating of Perceived ExertionImproves (the measure goes up)1 study26 people

Studies that measured rating of perceived exertion

Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies26 people
Muscle MassImproves (the measure goes up)26 people
Power OutputImproves (the measure goes up)26 people
Muscle Size & Strength: outcomes studied for Leucine
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Body Fat

No effect

NoneNo effect26 people
Rating of Perceived ExertionImproves (the measure goes up)1 study26 people

Studies that measured rating of perceived exertion

Liver EnzymesChanges; see studies26 people
Muscle MassImproves (the measure goes up)26 people
Power OutputImproves (the measure goes up)26 people

Key findings

  • Body Fat
  • Liver Enzymes

Shop Leucine

Third-party tested Leucine products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

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Studies cited

1 study from PubMed

  1. Daily L-leucine supplementation in novice trainees during a 12-week weight training programInt J Sports Physiol Perform · PMID 21487148