Leucine facts

• Leucine is an essential amino acid
• Leucine functions as a building block of protein in the body
• Leucine is part of the 3-branched chain amino acids
• Leucine is similar structurally to isoleucine and valine

Leucine is an essential amino acid. This means the body cannot make it at all, or not in sufficient amounts for good health and it needs to be eaten as part of the diet every day.

Leucine, just like all the other amino acids, is one of the building blocks of all proteins in the body, which not only include muscles, but also all the other proteins required for normal function of the body.

Leucine is part of the three-branched chain amino acid (BCAA), the other two amino acids in this chain are isoleucine and valine.

Leucine is almost identical to isoleucine, having the same chemical composition, but a different arrangement of atoms, resulting in different properties and a different amino acid. Both isoleucine and leucine are also similar to valine.