2-Hydroxyisocaproic acid explained

2-Hydroxyisocaproic acid (HICA or leucic acid) is a metabolite of the branched-chain amino acid leucine.^[1] It is commonly sold as a purported muscle building supplement.^[2] It also has fungicidal properties.^[2] HICA was shown to increase protein synthesis and muscle mass in rats who were recovering from a period of induced atrophy.^[3]

HICA is also produced by several protozoans it has been reported to show anti- inflammatory activities.^[4]

Notes and References

1. 24495238. Investigation of the presence of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid and α-hydroxyisocaproic acid in bovine whole milk and fermented dairy products by a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. . . 10.1021/jf500026s . 62 . 7 . February 2014 . 1506–11. Ehling . Stefan . Reddy . Todime M. .
2. 24125484 . 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid is fungicidal for Candida and Aspergillus species. . . 10.1111/myc.12145 . 57 . 4 . April 2014 . 214–21. Sakko . M. . Moore . C. . Novak-Frazer . L. . Rautemaa . V. . Sorsa . T. . Hietala . P. . Järvinen . A. . Bowyer . P. . Tjäderhane . L. . Rautemaa . R. . 24106682 .
3. 23757407 . Chronic α-hydroxyisocaproic acid treatment improves muscle recovery after immobilization-induced atrophy. . . 10.1152/ajpendo.00618.2012 . 305 . 3 . August 2013 . E416–28. Lang . Charles H. . Pruznak . Anne . Navaratnarajah . Maithili . Rankine . Kristina A. . Deiter . Gina . Magne . Hugues . Offord . Elizabeth A. . Breuillé . Denis .
4. Westrop. Gareth D.. Wang. Lijie. Blackburn. Gavin J.. Zhang. Tong. Zheng. Liang. Watson. David G.. Coombs. Graham H.. 2017-12-21. Metabolomic profiling and stable isotope labelling of Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus reveal major differences in amino acid metabolism including the production of 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, cystathionine and S-methylcysteine. PLOS ONE. 12. 12. e0189072. 10.1371/journal.pone.0189072. 1932-6203. 5739422. 29267346. 2017PLoSO..1289072W. free.