L-Leucine Increases Skeletal Muscle IGF-1 Peptide But Has No Effect on Akt/mTOR Signaling in Response to Resistance Exercise in Trained Men
David Church April 2015 The FASEB Journal vol. 29 no. 1 Supplement 819.2
Leucine ingestion following resistance exercise (RE) increases muscle protein synthesis via mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) at a dose of 3g. It has also been shown that skeletal muscle (SM) IGF-1 activates mTORC1. It is plausible that leucine can increase SM IGF1, elucidating another mechanism in which mTORC1 activity might be up-regulated.
Purpose: The effect of a single threshold dose of L-leucine given immediately after RE on serum leucine and IGF1, and SM IGF1, IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K.
Methods: 9 resistance-trained men performed two separate testing sessions of 4 sets of 8-10 reps at 75-80% 1-RM on the angled leg press and knee extension exercises. Immediately after, 3g of L-leucine (LEU) or placebo in the form of gelatin capsules was ingested. Venous blood was obtained before, 0.5-, 2-, and 6-hr post-exercise, and a muscle biopsy obtained before, 2- and 6-hr post-exercise. A repeated measures ANOVA (treatment x time) for each criterion variable was performed.
Results: Increases were noted in serum [leucine] in LEU group (p=0.04), muscle IGF1 at 2-hr (p=0.03) and 6-hr (p=0.04), with no changes observed in serum IGF-1 (p=0.99), IGF-1R (p=0.84), Akt (p=0.55), mTOR (p=0.09), and P70S6K (p=0.98).
Conclusion: 3 g of L-leucine following a RE session does not appear to influence serum [IGF1] or mTORC1 signaling, but did preferentially increase IGF1 peptide content in SM.