nutrient
Leucine
A branched-chain essential amino acid whose carbon can enter ketone-producing pathways.
Educational draft · Human scientific and editorial review pending. About review status
Leucine is incorporated into proteins and can be oxidised to acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate.
How it works
A carbon route that is ketogenic
Ketogenic means that leucine’s carbon portion enters acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate pathways rather than providing a net route to glucose.
Related topics
Leucine is used to build Protein
Leucine is one of the amino acids used to assemble proteins.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: NIH National Library of Medicine: Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids
Worth knowing
It is one of the branched-chain amino acids. Leucine, isoleucine and valine are grouped by their branched side chains.
A closer look
Its oxidation follows tissue demand
When leucine is not being used for new protein, its breakdown depends on protein turnover and the available energy and carbon sources.
Protein turnover releases it
Leucine enters the free amino-acid pool when proteins are broken down and can be reincorporated or oxidised.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
Take it into the kitchen
Explore this nutrient in simple meals. Recipe pages show estimated amounts and missing data.
Chicken corn tortilla fold · 20 min →
Pineapple cashew chicken pan · 25 min →
Coconut ginger chicken rice · 25 min →
Compare meals by leucine →