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Life sciences · Journal article
Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences · August 12, 2026
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This cross-sectional study reports associations between elevated serum leucine and insulin resistance indices (HOMA-IR proxy) in diabetic and prediabetic individuals, with odds ratios in the range 1.06–1.24 per unit increase in leucine. The data suggest leucine may correlate with insulin resistance risk, but the design does not establish causality, validate biomarker performance, or define a clinical threshold.
Cross-sectional study. 155 participants aged 30–69 years enrolled at Galiawa Hospital for Diabetes and Endocrinology and AKA Fitness Center, Erbil, Iraq: 46 with type 2 diabetes, 38 prediabetic patients, 36 non-diabetic individuals, and 35 healthy young active individuals receiving leucine supplementation.. Intervention: Leucine supplementation in healthy young active individuals; standard clinical care in diabetic and prediabetic groups. Compared with: Serum leucine levels compared across groups; no formal control intervention. n = 155. Erbil city, Iraq (two centres: Galiawa Hospital for Diabetes and Endocrinology and AKA Fitness Center).
High serum leucine associated with obesity (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.7–2.8) Serum leucine associated with increased fasting blood sugar risk (OR=1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.18) Serum leucine associated with elevated HbA1c (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.12–1.37)
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Serum leucine shows association with insulin resistance markers and may warrant investigation as a supplementary screening tool in at-risk populations. However, clinicians should not adopt leucine measurement for clinical decision-making until prospective validation, diagnostic accuracy studies, and a defined clinical threshold are established.
Cross-sectional study with modest sample size and no intervention arm, establishing associations between serum leucine and insulin resistance markers but lacking causal evidence or validation of biomarker utility.
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Serum leucine shows association with insulin resistance markers and may warrant investigation as a supplementary screening tool in at-risk populations. However, clinicians should not adopt leucine measurement for clinical decision-making until prospective validation, diagnostic accuracy studies, and a defined clinical threshold are established.
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Background and objective: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (T2DM) represents a serious risk to public health known as hyperglycemia. High levels of serum leucine a branched chain amino acid have been associated with early insulin resistance and metabolic imbalances. This study investigates the relationship between serum leucine levels and insulin resistance, and to evaluate its potential as a biomarker alongside standard blood sugar markers in diabetic, prediabetic, and leucine-supplemented individuals undergoing training. Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted at the (Galiawa hospital for diabetes and endocrinology and (AKA Fitness) center)/ Erbil city / Iraq. A total of 155 participants, aged between 30 and 69, were included, composed of 46 with T2DM, 38pre-diabetic patients, 36 non-diabetic and 35 healthy young active training individuals who received leucine supplementation. Data was collected by interview questionnaire about; sociodemographic, life style and results of biochemical tests. Results: High levels of serum Leucine were significantly increase with age, obesity (OR=2.4, 95% CI. 1.7 - 2.8) and increased risk of high fasting blood sugar (OR=1.14,95% of CI 1.09-1.18), HbA1c (OR=1.24, 95% of CI 1.12-1.37), and insulin resistance (OR= 1.06, 95% of CI 1.02-1.1) in diabetic and prediabetic. Excessive supplementation caused excess serum leucine levels and increase potential insulin resistance (OR=1.3, 95% CI I,07-1.6) with advancing age. Conclusion: High serum leucine levels can cause insulin resistance in elderly, obese, prediabetic, and diabetic patients, suggesting its potential use as a biomarker for early diagnosis. A low dose of leucine supplementation should be considered in individuals undergoing training.
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