Efficacy of L-Leucine Supplementation Coupled with a Calorie-Restricted Diet to Promote Weight Loss in Mid-Life Women.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether leucine supplementation combined with a calorie-restricted diet could improve body composition and resting metabolic rate in mid-life overweight and obese women.
Results Summary
Both groups lost weight, including fat and lean mass, but leucine supplementation did not significantly differ from placebo in preserving lean mass or affecting RMR. A greater proportion of women taking leucine maintained or gained lean mass, though this was not statistically significant.
Population
Mid-life overweight and obese women
Effective Dosage
10 g leucine daily
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
leucine supplementation coupled with a calorie-restricted diet | decrease | weight | mid-life overweight and obese women | significant amount | lost a significant amount of weight | #1 |
leucine supplementation coupled with a calorie-restricted diet | decrease | fat mass | mid-life overweight and obese women | - | lost | #2 |
leucine supplementation coupled with a calorie-restricted diet | decrease | lean mass | mid-life overweight and obese women | - | lost | #3 |
leucine supplementation | no change | weight loss | mid-life overweight and obese women | no significant difference | no significant difference | #4 |
leucine supplementation | no change | resting metabolic rate (RMR) | mid-life overweight and obese women | - | remaining unchanged | #5 |
leucine supplementation | no change | resting metabolic rate (RMR) | mid-life overweight and obese women | not significantly different | not significantly different | #6 |
leucine supplementation | decrease | loss in lean mass | mid-life overweight and obese women | noticeably less | noticeably less | #7 |
leucine supplementation | no change | loss in lean mass | mid-life overweight and obese women | not statistically significant | not statistically significant | #8 |
LEU supplements | increase | lean mass | mid-life overweight or obese women | greater proportion | gained or maintained | #9 |
LEU supplements | no change | lean mass gain or maintenance | mid-life overweight or obese women | did not reach a level of statistical significance | did not reach a level of statistical significance | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of leucine supplementation coupled with a calorie-restricted diet over a 12-week period in mid-life overweight and obese women on body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR). METHOD: This study was a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 34 women were randomly assigned to either 10 g leucine (LEU) or placebo daily, while following a calorie-restricted diet A dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) analysis, metabolic rate assessment via a BodyGem® and anthropometrics were performed at baseline and after the 12-week study to determine changes in fat mass, lean mass and RMR. Main variables were analyzed using 2 (condition) by 2 (time) mixed design ANOVAs with repeated measures. Odds ratio was calculated by counting the number of individuals gaining or maintaining lean mass ( RESULTS: Both groups lost a significant amount of weight due to both fat and lean mass loss, but there was no significant difference between groups, with RMR remaining unchanged over the course of the study and not significantly different between groups. The loss in lean mass was noticeably less, though not statistically significant ( CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that a greater proportion of mid-life overweight or obese women taking LEU supplements gained or maintained lean mass during intentional weight loss, though it did not reach a level of statistical significance.