Leucic acid (HICA) and muscle
What 3 graded rows on leucic acid (hica) agree on for muscle, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Leucic acid (HICA) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Leucic acid (HICA) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Leucic acid (HICA) and muscle
3 rows · 55 peopleMostly no difference: 2 of 3 rows, and most of the people. 1 found an improvement.
- DGrade D× 3
- Rows
- 3
- Trials
- 3
- People
- 55
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade D, is a randomized trial of 20 people (2019) and found no difference.
The 2 rows that found no difference ran longer (8 weeks) than the row that found an improvement (4 weeks).
The 2 rows that found no difference are newer (2019) than the row that found an improvement (2010).
The rows
1 improved · 2 no difference- DGrade DFat-free mass and performance during resistance training · No difference
RCT · n 20 · 2019 · Resistance-trained young men
As labelled on the commercial product (amount not given in the abstract) · 8 weeks
α-HICA did not improve body composition more than placebo; no between-group differences.
Row on the Leucic acid (HICA) page · PubMed 30588860 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DMuscle thickness, strength and power during resistance training · No difference
RCT · n 20 · 2019 · Resistance-trained young men
As labelled on the commercial product (amount not given in the abstract) · 8 weeks
Muscle thickness, one-repetition maximum, Wingate peak power and jump performance rose over the training period, with no differences between α-HICA and placebo.
Row on the Leucic acid (HICA) page · PubMed 30102677 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DLean body mass, muscle soreness, strength and running speed · Improved
RCT · n 15 · 2010 · Male soccer players during an intensive training period
583 mg sodium HICA (500 mg HICA) three times a day (1.5 g/day) · 4 weeks
Whole-body lean mass rose and leg lean mass rose 400 g (vs a 150 g fall with placebo); muscle soreness was lower in week 4. Strength and running speed did not differ.
Row on the Leucic acid (HICA) page · PubMed 20051111 (opens PubMed)