Isoleucine

Isoleucine is an essential amino acid found mainly in foods rich in proteins (meat, fish, legumes, eggs, dairy products, etc.).

In the human organism it plays a fundamental role in protein synthesis, especially muscle synthesis. It also prevents the catabolism of structural proteins and promotes recovery from prolonged effort.

Isoleucine is a glucogenic (can be converted to glucose) and ketogenic (can be converted to ketone bodies) amino acid. Both of these metabolic pathways are poorly active under normal conditions, but become valuable during prolonged fasting or when blood glucose is in short supply. because of a "prolonged physical activity. For this reason, isoleucine is marketed, together with two other essential branched chain amino acids (leucine and valine), in products dedicated to athletes.