Dileucine formula did not clearly outperform branched-chain amino acids on leucine retention
A small crossover study measured short-term markers after resistance exercise. Both amino acid drinks produced greater leucine retention than collagen, without a significant difference between them.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The dileucine formula and branched-chain amino acids produced greater leucine retention than collagen after exercise, but did not differ significantly from each other. Urinary estimates of muscle protein breakdown also did not differ across drinks. These short-term measures do not establish gains in muscle size, strength, or longer-term training outcomes.
This small study measured acute markers, with additional exploratory experiments in cells exposed to participants' serum. Its results cannot establish long-term muscle growth in people.
What researchers found
Total exogenous leucine retention
Dileucine-containing essential amino acids versus branched-chain amino acids during 6 hours after drink ingestion following exercise (p = 0.68).
What retention means here
The researchers used retained ingested leucine as an estimate of whole-body anabolism. This measure concerns the handling of an amino acid after a drink; it is not a direct measurement of muscle growth.
Cell results were mixed
Several cell outcomes showed no significant differences. The isotope-based synthesis analysis showed only a trend in the overall comparison; exploratory pairwise effect sizes leave any advantage for the dileucine formula uncertain.
The original publication
Dileucine-supplemented essential amino acids support whole-body anabolism after resistance exercise and serum-stimulated cell-based anabolism.
Aguilera JA, Tinline-Goodfellow CT, Lees MJ et al.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41321015
- Record checked
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