Abstract
Dexamethasone (DEXA) is a potent immunosupressant and anti-inflammatory agent whose main side effects are muscle atrophy and insulin resistance in skeletal muscles. In this context, leucine supplementation may represent a way to limit the DEXA side effects. In this study, we have investigated the effects of a low and a high dose of leucine supplementation (via a bolus) on glucose homeostasis, muscle mass and muscle strength in energy-restricted and DEXA-treated rats. Since the leucine response may also be linked to the administration of this amino acid, we performed a second set of experiments with leucine given in bolus (via gavage) versus leucine given via drinking water. Leucine supplementation was found to produce positive effects (e.g., reduced insulin levels) only when administrated in low dosage, both via the bolus or via drinking water. However, under DEXA treatment, leucine administration was found to significantly influence this response, since leucine supplementation via drinking water clearly induced a diabetic state, whereas the same effect was not observed when supplied via the gavage.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1851-1867 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Nutrients |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Nov 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Keywords
- Animals
- Blood Glucose/metabolism
- Dexamethasone/adverse effects
- Dietary Supplements
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Administration Routes
- Glucocorticoids/adverse effects
- Homeostasis/drug effects
- Insulin/blood
- Insulin Resistance
- Leucine/administration & dosage
- Male
- Muscle Strength/drug effects
- Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects
- Muscular Atrophy/chemically induced
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar