July 21/Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA -- Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC (AAS) announced that it has confirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status of its AjiGRAS-Leucine, meeting the safety standards demanded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company notes in a press release, "As the only formulation of Leucine currently with FDA acknowledged GRAS status, Ajinomoto's AjiGRAS-Leucine is the first amino acid to be allowed as an ingredient for use in conventional foods like non-milk and milk based meal replacements, sports and isotonic beverages, vitamin enhanced waters, and meal replacement bars, at levels of 0.5 to 3 grams per serving."
"This GRAS designation creates new opportunities for food and beverage manufacturers looking to offer the benefits of Leucine to consumers. Leucine is an essential amino acid the human body needs for key metabolic functions such as building body protein. Researchers have now established that Leucine can act to stimulate protein synthesis, helping to maintain or build muscle and also to help reduce the loss of body protein associated with strenuous exercise, weight loss and even aging."