Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Isoleucine is one of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), along with leucine and valine. BCAAs are essential amino acids, meaning they must be obtained from the diet. Their role in supporting muscle protein synthesis and reducing muscle breakdown has led to their investigation in conditions characterized by muscle wasting (cachexia), such as in cancer, chronic illness, or aging (sarcopenia). Several studies have shown that supplementation with BCAAs, including isoleucine, may help attenuate muscle wasting by stimulating muscle protein synthesis and reducing protein degradation. However, much of the evidence is stronger for leucine than for isoleucine specifically, as leucine is considered the most potent BCAA in triggering the mTOR pathway, which promotes muscle growth. Isoleucine does play a supportive role in these metabolic pathways, and deficiencies in essential amino acids can exacerbate muscle loss. Some clinical trials have used BCAA mixtures for patients with liver disease or other wasting conditions and have reported modest benefits in preserving lean body mass. Despite these findings, the direct evidence supporting isoleucine alone as a treatment for wasting is limited, and most clinical interventions use combinations of all three BCAAs or complete amino acid mixtures. Thus, while scientific rationale exists for isoleucine as part of a BCAA or protein supplementation strategy in wasting conditions, the strength of evidence specifically for isoleucine is modest.

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