Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Leucine supplementation upregulates cytoskeletal genes (e.g., tubulins, vimentin, cadherins) in muscle tissue, which may support muscle growth and structural integrity.
For coaches and athletes, the upregulation of cytoskeletal genes suggests that leucine may help build more resilient muscle tissue. This supports the use of leucine not just for immediate performance, but for long-term muscle health and recovery in high-intensity sports.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
qPCR validation confirmed the upregulation of cytoskeleton-related genes... supporting the transcriptomic findings. These cytoskeletal elements are highly important for muscle cell integrity and function, supporting the notion that leucine supplementation may be acting at a molecular level to enhance muscle strength and resilience.
Why this rating
Transcriptomic and qPCR data are robust for mechanism, but the link to functional hypertrophy in humans is inferred from gene expression.
Source
Unraveling the transcriptomic effects of leucine supplementation on muscle growth and performance in basketball athletes
Shougui Wang et al. · PLoS ONE · 2025
rct · n=20
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