Isoleucine is commonly used in conjunction with other amino acids to promote muscle growth and repair. Diets rich in cheese, fish and meats will typically provide sufficient amounts of isoleucine. Isoleucine is also present in many supplements that advertise branched chain amino acids to help bodybuilders grow. You should only begin a isoleucine regimen after talking to your doctor about the possible interactions of isoleucine with other medications.
Depression
Although isoleucine does not directly cause depression, isoleucine lowers tyrosine, which effects L-Dopa's ability to function in the brain, according to a report published in "Neuropsychopharmacology" in 2006. Low dopamine levels have long been known to cause depression in many people and dopamine's role was confirmed again in a study published in "Cell" in 2005. If you believe you are experiencing any symptoms of depression, you should talk to your doctor. Depression can be serious if not treated.
Liver Disease
Many illnesses induce liver damage; however, chronic abuse leads to liver disease that has several serious implications. Since one of the livers primary roles is to breakdown harmful substances so that they can be converted to less harmful substances or excreted from the body, degradation of the liver can cause a build-up of toxins that induce further damage to many organs, according to the Mayo Clinic. A report in "Gut" published in 1978 captured the ability of isoleucine along with other branched amino acids to exacerbate liver damage and induce liver disease even after only two weeks of supplementation. If you have a history of liver disease, you should take isoleucine supplements cautiously and only under the supervision of your doctor.
Kidney Disease
Isoleucine may induce excessive urination. Although seemingly innocuous, excessive urination can cause deficiencies of many other essential substances that are now being excreted instead of stored in the body. The Health Vitamins Guide indicates that you should avoid taking isoleucine supplements if you have any history of kidney trouble. You should always consult your doctor before taking isoleucine supplements. Excess isoleucine may induce deficiency of other important amino acids since your body will actively try to expel the accumulation of isoleucine by coupling it to other amino acids.
References
- "Neuropsychopharmacology;" Effect of Acute Tyrosine Depletion in Using a Branched Chain Amino-Acid Mixture on Dopamine Neurotransmission in the Rat Brain; M. Le Masurier et al.; January 2006
- "Cell;" Par-4 Links Dopamine Signaling and Depression; S. Park et al.; July 2005
- Mayo Clinic: Liver Disease
- "Gut;" Plasma Ratio of Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine to Phenylalanine and Tyrosine in Liver Disease; M. Morgan et al.; September 1978
- Health Vitamins Guide: Isoleucine
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