What is the difference between isoleucine and leucine

The key difference between leucine and isoleucine is the intermediate they require during the synthesis. Leucine requires alpha-ketoisovaleric acid while isoleucine requires alpha-ketoglutaric acid. Furthermore, there is also an another difference between leucine and isoleucine based on the functions they perform. The leucine involves in the growth and repair of muscle, production of growth hormone, and regulation of energy.

Whereas the isoleucine involves in wound healing, detoxification of nitrogeneous waste, simulation of immune functions, and regulating the secretion of some hormones. Leucine and isoleucine are essential, branched chain amino acids that should be taken from meals.

Both are produced during the pyruvic acid pathway, but the key difference between leucine and isoleucine lies in the type of intermediates they require for the synthesis. Leucine requires alpha — ketoisovaleric acid whereas isoleucine requires alpha-ketoglutaric acid. Moreover, their physiological role also varies. Leucine involves in growth and repair of muscle tissue whereas isoleucine involves in wound healing processes and detoxification.

This is the difference between leucine and isoleucine. PubChem Compound Database, U. National Library of Medicine. Available here. Public Domain via Commons Wikimedia. It also has a host of other functions. Isoleucine is especially important during exercise as it stimulates glucose uptake into cells and then helps break down that glucose into energy, enhancing performance. It acts as a hypoglycemic agent to lower blood glucose levels , which is useful for diabetics.

Isoleucine helps to detoxify nitrogenous waste, like ammonia, which the kidneys then excrete from the body. As a bonus, isoleucine helps to maintain a healthy immune system. The amount of protein we need is fairly well established, but when it comes to breaking that down into individual amino acids, the results are a bit less conclusive. Because leucine is found in so many everyday foods, deficiency is very rare.

Protein is an excellent source of all the essential amino acids, but these whole foods are particularly good sources of both leucine and isoleucine:. In that case, supplements can give you the boost you need. Whey protein powder and soy protein powder are some of the highest-quality sources of leucine and isoleucine. Escobar, Melanie J. Patterson, Jennifer S.

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