What Is Isoleucine & What Foods Can I Find It In?

3D-model of Isoleucine (src)

Isoleucine is an essential amino acid that's used in the biosynthesis of proteins.

It's used as building blocks.

Essential means that the body cannot synthesize it and must be ingested through our diet.

Isoleucine is both a glucogenic and ketogenic amino acid.

Isoleucine is concentrated in our muscle tissues.

Table of Contents

Isoleucine Is Essential

Isoleucine is one of nine essential amino acids found in humans.

It is essential for normal growth and development. (source )

Isoleucine cannot be synthesized in the body and therefore has to be obtained through our diet. (source )

You can find other benefits of isoleucine in Isoleucine: 6 Research-Backed Benefits .

Isoleucine Levels, Detection Of Certain Conditions

Isoleucine is a branched-chain amino acid.

Circulating levels of the branched-chain amino acids in the body, like isoleucine, are increased in type 2 diabetes and obesity.

They are considered early predictors for these conditions. (source )

Isoleucine Is Given To Poultry

Isoleucine is widely used as an additive in poultry feed.

It can increase the body weight of chicken, turkey, and other birds. It also makes the meat more tender.

Production Of Isoleucine

Isoleucine is produced by the microbial fermentation of glucose and other sugars, such as molasses, starch, and sucrose, with various microorganisms.

Industrially, the fermentation of glucose is carried out by the action of a number of different microorganisms.

The production of isoleucine can be enhanced by the addition of glucose to the fermentation broth.

Foods You Can Find Isoleucine In

You find isoleucine mostly in dairy and eggs, legumes, vegetable products, and american indian and alaska native foods.

Examples of food sources include

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated, top ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most isoleucine, we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top ranked list of foods that contain Isoleucine.

Sara Niemelä

co-founder Care Omnia, Head Content Creator

Author Image of Sara Niemelä

Nutrition is my passion. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading, analyzing, categorizing and comparing research studies.

I’m a wife and a mother of three. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my family.