Leucine activates an anabolic pathway, the mTOR pathway, that stimulates muscle protein synthesis. No single ingredient has the pure, unadulterated anabolic power that leucine does. Simply stated, lucene is essential for achieving a positive nitrogen balance and building lean muscle mass.
Leucine is one of the three branched chain amino acids (the other two being isoleucine and valine) and is extremely important. It is naturally found in nuts, brown rice, whole wheat, cottage cheese, chicken, and fish. Leucine is one of the most concentrated amino acids within the skeletal muscle tissue.
Leucine is so essential for the body that it is referred to as a limiting nutrient. The body absolutely requires leucine in order to make use of all of the other amino acids. Without adequate amounts of leucine all other sources of protein can be deemed useless. In short, without leucine the body doesn’t function properly and will not make use of protein.