Effects of Large Doses ofl-Leucine in Animals and Man

Leucine, when ingested with glucose, synergistically stimulates insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose

“…An exaggerated insulin response in obese hyperinsulinemic children also has been reported [14]. It also can result in symptomatically significant hypoglycemia in sensitive individuals [13,15].…”

“…It also has been known for many years that leucine is an insulin secretagogue when given intravenously or orally in very large amounts to adults and children [11][12][13]. An exaggerated insulin response in obese hyperinsulinemic children also has been reported [14].…”

“…The hypoglycemic response appears to be dose dependent [13]. In normal-weight healthy adults and children, ingestion of amounts in the range of 150 to 200 mg/kg body weight, which represents an amount that is modestly greater than might enter the circulation after ingestion of a very large protein meal, has resulted in little change in insulin or glucose concentration [11,16].…”

Leucine-Induced Hyperglycemia in the Goat

“…That dose in previous studies [10] was seen to be about 3 limes less than the minimum active quantity for sensitive children and 15 times less than that for all people.…”

Hypoglycemia Due to Intrapancreatic Infusion of Leucine

“…DIABETES 75:560-64, August, 1966. L-leucine produces hypoglycemia in sensitive children or adults 1 and in patients having islet cell tumors of the pancreas. 2 This effect, which may also be demonstrated to a lesser extent in the normal human or animal, 3 is exaggerated by treatment with insulin in dogs. 4 It is also potentiated by sulfonylurea administration in healthy volunteers, 5 diabetics 0 or animals.…”