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L-Leucine as an essential Amino Acid |
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L-Leucine as an essential Amino Acid
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Darrell Miller | 05/31/14 |
Date:
May 31, 2014 06:54 AM
Author: Darrell Miller
(dm@vitanetonline.com)
Subject: L-Leucine as an essential Amino Acid
Introduction
L-Leucine is a a-amino acid with the chemical formulae HO2CCH(NH2)CH2CH(CH3)2. It is a hydrophopic amino acid to its aliphatic isobutyl side chain. L-Leucine is an essential amino acid since the human body can’t synthesize it, and it therefore must be ingested.
What is an essential amino acid
These are the amino acids that can’t be synthesized by the body of the organism hence it must be supplied in the diet. These amino acids is important not because they are important than others, but simply because the body can’t synthesize them.
Phenylalanine, L- Leucine, Valine, Tryptophan, Threonine, meyhionine, iso - Leucine, lysine and histidine are some of amino acids regarded as essential for humans beings.
The main difference between essential and non-essential amino acids is somehow since some proteins can be synthesized from others. The sulfur containing amino acids such as L-Leucine may sometimes be referred to as an essential amino acid.
Effects of L-Leucine deficiency
Majority of amino acids are important in the human diet. An experiment carried out by William Cummings Rose showed that lack of L-Leucine results to symptoms of exhaustion, nervousness and dizziness. Results further showed that these symptoms were encountered to lesser extent whenever human subjects were deprived of an essential amino acid.
In plants and other micro-organisms, L-Leucine is synthesized from pruvic acid by several enzymes. These enzymes include:
· a-Isopropylmalate synthase
· L-Leucineaminotransferase
· a-Isopropylmalate isomerase
· Acetolactate synthase
· Acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase
· Dihydroxyacid dehydratase
Importance of L- Leucine
L-Leucine is used by the adipose tissue, liver and the muscle. In muscle tissue and adipose L-Leucine is used in the formation of sterols. Ironically the combined usage of L-Leucine in the muscle and adipose is seven times greater than its use in the liver.
L-Leucine is also used in stimulation of the muscle protein synthesis. In dietary , L-Leucine is used in to slow down the degradation of muscle tissue by increasing the synthesis of muscle proteins in aged rats however this does not work in elderly men. L-Leucine helps you lose weight and spare muscle when dieting.
However L-Leucine can’t be associated as the main reason in muscular growth for the entire populatin. L-Leucine activates the mammalian target that regulates the growth cells in rats.
Negative effects of L- Leucine
L-Leucine cause neurologic complications which may be fatal if not control in time.
Studies also show that over activity of the liver is caused by taking L-Leucine supplement, excess L-Leucine may also cause pellagra, whose symptoms include dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and eventually death.
