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Effects of Leucine and Isoleucine on Glucose Metabolism

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Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

The branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) have recently been recognized as having functions other than simple nutrition. The signaling action of leucine in protein synthesis has been well studied, but the pharmacological effects of isoleucine and valine have not been clarified. It has recently been reported that, among the BCAAs, leucine and isoleucine act as signals in glucose metabolism. We revealed that isoleucine stimulates both glucose uptake in the muscle and whole body glucose oxidation, in addition to depressing gluconeogenesis in the liver, thereby leading to a hypoglycemic effect in rats. The major focus of this chapter is on the role of BCAAs in regulating glucose metabolism.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agrobiology and Bioresources, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, 350 Mine-machi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan

    Fumiaki Yoshizawa Ph.D.

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  1. Fumiaki Yoshizawa Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Fumiaki Yoshizawa Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Yoshizawa, F. (2015). Effects of Leucine and Isoleucine on Glucose Metabolism. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1923-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1923-9_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1922-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1923-9

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