Leucine for more CRed body protein

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Hi All,

The pdf-available below paper suggests that leucine amino acid is the component

of

protein that is thought to be required during CR for body protein maintenance.

Muscle maintenance may be important.

Layman DK, DA.

Potential importance of leucine in treatment of obesity and the metabolic

syndrome.

J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1):319S-23S.

PMID: 16365106

Diets with total protein intake >1.5 g.kg(-1).d(-1) and carbohydrate intake <150

g/d

are effective for treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the Metabolic

Syndrome.

These diets improve body composition and enhance glycemic control. During weight

loss, protein-rich diets reduce loss of lean tissue and increase loss of body

fat.

Specific mechanisms to explain each of these clinical outcomes remain to be

fully

elucidated. We propose that keys to understanding the relationship between

dietary

protein and carbohydrates are the relationships between the branched-chain amino

acid leucine and insulin and glucose metabolism. Leucine is known to interact

with

the insulin signaling pathway to stimulate downstream signal control of protein

synthesis, resulting in maintenance of muscle protein during periods of

restricted

energy intake. Leucine also appears to modulate insulin signaling and glucose

use by

skeletal muscle. Whereas total protein is important in providing substrates for

gluconeogenesis, leucine appears to regulate oxidative use of glucose by

skeletal

muscle through stimulation of glucose recycling via the glucose-alanine cycle.

These

mechanisms produce protein sparing and provide a stable glucose environment with

low

insulin responses during energy-restricted periods.

Al Pater, PhD; email: old542000@...

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