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Impact of leucine on energy balance

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Abstract

Body weight is determined by the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure. When energy intake exceeds energy expenditure, the surplus energy is stored as fat in the adipose tissue, which causes its expansion and may even lead to the development of obesity. Thus, there is a growing interest to develop dietary interventions that could reduce the current obesity epidemic. In this regard, data from a number of in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that the branched-chain amino acid leucine influences energy balance. However, this has not been consistently reported. Here, we review the literature related to the effects of leucine on energy intake, energy expenditure and lipid metabolism as well as its effects on the cellular activity in the brain (hypothalamus) and in peripheral tissues (gastro-intestinal tract, adipose tissue, liver and muscle) regulating the above physiological processes. Moreover, we discuss how obesity may influence the actions of this amino acid.

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Acknowledgments

The on-going work in the area of nutrient effects on energy balance is funded by Teagasc, Ireland. The authors have no conflicts of interest. Each author listed contributed by reviewing the literature and/or by critically reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork, Ireland

    Liam McAllan, Paul D. Cotter & Kanishka N. Nilaweera

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Liam McAllan

  3. Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Paul D. Cotter

  4. UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research, & UCD Institute of Food & Health, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Helen M. Roche

  5. Institute of Biomedicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Riitta Korpela

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  1. Liam McAllan
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Correspondence to Kanishka N. Nilaweera.

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McAllan, L., Cotter, P.D., Roche, H.M. et al. Impact of leucine on energy balance. J Physiol Biochem 69, 155–163 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-012-0170-2

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