Effects of leucine supplementation on the body composition and protein status of rats submitted to food restriction

Acute administration of leucine has been shown to stimulate certain protein synthesis related anabolic processes. However, the effect of chronic leucine administration in a catabolic situation caused by food restriction (FR) has not been established. We therefore evaluated the effect of chronic leuc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2006-05, Vol.22 (5), p.520-527
Main Authors: Donato, Jose, Pedrosa, Rogerio Graça, Cruzat, Vinicius Fernandes, Pires, Ivanir Santana de Oliveira, Tirapegui, Julio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose Tissue - metabolism
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
blood serum
body composition
Body Composition - drug effects
Branched-chain amino acids
Caloric Restriction
Diet
dietary protein
Dietary Supplements
DNA
fasting
Feeding. Feeding behavior
fractional synthesis rate
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Leptin
Leptin - blood
leucine
Leucine - administration & dosage
Leucine - pharmacology
Liver - drug effects
Liver - metabolism
Male
Muscle Proteins - biosynthesis
Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects
Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism
Muscular system
Nutritional Status
Obesity
overweight
protein deficiencies
protein supplements
Protein synthesis
Proteins
Proteins - metabolism
Random Allocation
Rats
Rats, Wistar
RNA
Rodents
serum albumin
Serum Albumin - metabolism
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Weight control
weight control programs
Weight loss
Weight Loss - physiology
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Summary:Acute administration of leucine has been shown to stimulate certain protein synthesis related anabolic processes. However, the effect of chronic leucine administration in a catabolic situation caused by food restriction (FR) has not been established. We therefore evaluated the effect of chronic leucine supplementation on the body composition and some indicators of protein nutritional status of rats submitted to FR. Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to 50% FR for 6 weeks. The control group received the AIN-93M diet and the leucine group received the same diet supplemented with 5.91 g L-leucine/kg ration. We then determined carcass chemical composition, serum leptin, albumin and total protein concentrations, and protein, DNA and RNA concentrations in gastrocnemius muscle and liver. No difference in final body weight was observed between groups. However, the leucine group presented a lower amount of body fat ( P < 0.05). Leptin concentration showed a directly proportional correlation with the amount of body fat (r = 0.88, P < 0.05), but no significant difference in serum leptin concentration was observed between groups ( P = 0.08). Regarding protein nutritional status, liver protein concentration was higher in the leucine group ( P < 0.05). In the gastrocnemius muscle, a higher RNA concentration ( P < 0.05) and a tendency towards higher DNA concentration ( P = 0.06) were observed in the leucine group. The results indicate that low-dose leucine supplementation increases body fat loss and improves liver protein status and the capacity of muscle protein synthesis in rats submitted to FR.
ISSN:0899-9007
1873-1244
DOI:10.1016/j.nut.2005.12.008