Leucine was the primary amino acid responsible for activating mTOR in macrophages, and increasing protein consumption had a threshold effect on the detrimental signaling pathway.

Zhang X, Kapoor D, Jeong S-J, et al. Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk. Nature Metabolism. 2024;6:359-377. Rose AJ, ...

Beyond muscle health, leucine also helps in regulating blood sugar levels, promoting fat loss, boosting immune function, and supporting brain health. It activates the mTOR pathway, which is ...

Plant-based foods high in leucine include soybeans, with about 2.8 grams per cup, and lentils, offering 1.3 grams per cup. Other sources are chickpeas, quinoa, and peanuts, all providing around 1 ...

As it did during the 2020 study, one amino acid stood out yet again in activating mTOR: leucine. Next, the researchers wanted to see if these results actually yielded atherosclerosis.