Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Leucine

Leucine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that is involved in numerous metabolic processes and functions. It plays an important role in muscle protein synthesis and energy production, particularly during exercise and periods of fasting. Leucine is also important for healthy bones, skin, and hair; it h…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 8 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 23× across the literature 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Leucine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that is involved in numerous metabolic processes and functions. It plays an important role in muscle protein synthesis and energy production, particularly during exercise and periods of fasting. Leucine is also important for healthy bones, skin, and hair; it helps to regulate blood sugar and has beneficial effects on the nervous system. Studies have found that supplementing with leucine may help with weight loss, increase muscle mass, and reduce fatigue. As an added bonus, leucine has even been shown to improve cognitive function. All in all, leucine is an essential nutrient that can have numerous benefits for overall health and wellbeing.

Research published in this journal

8 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 8 articles above have been cited 23 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Leucine, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Amino Acids.

Journal editorial board
Nicolas Inguimbert · France

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.