Nutrition Questions and Answers
Vital Health Zone is proud to announce Lesa Rusher, who is our resident naturopathic expert and who is available to answer questions about nutrition and health.
Lesa Rusher is a qualified naturopath with a thriving business in Canberra, Australia and has a wealth of experience treating clients on a variety of health issues. Lesa Rusher's full credentials can be found in our experts area.
Lesa Rusher will answer your nutrition-related questions.
Q: I was reading your article about isoleucine and it states that high doses of isoleucine may cause some side effects.
I was hoping you could show me how much isoleucine (as a supplement) would be considered a high dose?
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A: Isoleucine is one of the essential amino acids, which means we need to take it in the form of the food we eat each day. Most people generally get enough isoleucine from their diet,, but some people can become deficient and may need to supplement their diet.
If you want to take an isoleucine supplement, the RDA is 12 mg per kg of your weight (adults).
eg: a 90kg man = 12 mg/kg* 90kg = 1080mg = 1.08g
The upper limit is set at 5-10g, but some people may not need to reach that level to experience some side effects.
As isoleucine is an essential amino acid, it does not appear to have many dangerous side effects, but any supplementation should be taken at the lower dosage first and increased as long as you do not experience an adverse reaction, plus, you should always inform your doctor about all supplements you take, so they are aware of this, and can advise you according to your particular situation.
Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult with your medical physician regarding appropriateness of using supplements in your healing process.
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