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Leucine

Leucine is an essential amino acid.

Chemical Formula: C₆H₁₃N₁O₂

Other names: 2-Amino-4-methyl-pentanoic acid

Layman's explanation: Leucine is used as a source for the synthesis of blood sugar in the liver during starvation, stress, and infection to aid in healing. Leucine also significantly influences muscle-protein metabolism and therefore is very important to body builders. Foods containing high levels of leucine include: cottage cheese, seafood, meat, poultry, and sesame seeds. In rare cases babies are born with an inability to metabolize leucine, which causes 'maple syrup urine disease': which is a disease that results in severe mental retardation. Insulin deficiency is known to result in poor utilization of leucine.

Keywords: blood sugar, Insulin deficiency

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