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Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Woo, S-L; Yang, J; Hsu, M; Yang, A; Zhang, L; Lee, R-P; Gilbuena, I; Thames, G; Huang, J; Rasmussen, A; Carpenter, CL; Henning, SM; Heber, D ...
Published in: Am J Clin Nutr
June 1, 2019

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are elevated in obese, insulin-resistant individuals. However, it is not known if supplementation of additional BCAAs will further impair glucose metabolism. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effects of BCAA supplementation on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic individuals. METHODS: This is a randomized crossover study involving 12 obese individuals with prediabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a daily supplement containing either 20 g BCAA or protein low in BCAAs for 4 wk with a 2-wk washout in between. At each visit, an oral-glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Collected blood samples were used to measure glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance-associated biomarkers. RESULTS: BCAA supplementation tended to decrease the plasma glucose area under the curve (AUC) measured by the OGTT (AUC percentage change from supplementation baseline, BCAA: -3.3% ± 3%; low-BCAA: 10.0% ± 6%; P = 0.08). However, BCAA supplementation did not affect plasma insulin during OGTT challenge (BCAA: -3.9% ± 8%; low-BCAA: 14.8% ± 10%; P = 0.28). The plasma concentrations of nerve growth factor (BCAA: 4.0 ± 1 pg/mL; low-BCAA: 5.7 ± 1 pg/mL; P = 0.01) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (BCAA: -0.4% ± 9%; low-BCAA: 29.0% ± 18%; P = 0.02) were significantly lowered by BCAA supplementation compared to low-BCAA control. Plasma interleukin 1β was significantly elevated by BCAA supplementation (BCAA: 231.4% ± 187%; low-BCAA: 20.6% ± 33%; P = 0.05). BCAA supplementation did not affect the circulating concentrations of the BCAAs leucine (BCAA: 9.0% ± 12%; low-BCAA: 9.2% ± 11%), valine (BCAA: 9.1% ± 11%; low-BCAA: 12.0% ± 13%), or isoleucine (BCAA: 2.5% ± 11%; low-BCAA: 7.3% ± 11%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that BCAA supplementation did not impair glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic subjects. Further studies are needed to confirm the results seen in the present study. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03715010.

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Published In

Am J Clin Nutr

DOI

EISSN

1938-3207

Publication Date

June 1, 2019

Volume

109

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1569 / 1577

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Prediabetic State
  • Pilot Projects
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Woo, S.-L., Yang, J., Hsu, M., Yang, A., Zhang, L., Lee, R.-P., … Li, Z. (2019). Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study. Am J Clin Nutr, 109(6), 1569–1577. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz024
Woo, Shih-Lung, Jieping Yang, Mark Hsu, Alicia Yang, Lijun Zhang, Ru-Po Lee, Irene Gilbuena, et al. “Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study.Am J Clin Nutr 109, no. 6 (June 1, 2019): 1569–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz024.
Woo S-L, Yang J, Hsu M, Yang A, Zhang L, Lee R-P, et al. Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jun 1;109(6):1569–77.
Woo, Shih-Lung, et al. “Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study.Am J Clin Nutr, vol. 109, no. 6, June 2019, pp. 1569–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqz024.
Woo S-L, Yang J, Hsu M, Yang A, Zhang L, Lee R-P, Gilbuena I, Thames G, Huang J, Rasmussen A, Carpenter CL, Henning SM, Heber D, Wang Y, Li Z. Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose metabolism in obese, prediabetic men and women: a randomized, crossover study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Jun 1;109(6):1569–1577.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Clin Nutr

DOI

EISSN

1938-3207

Publication Date

June 1, 2019

Volume

109

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1569 / 1577

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Prediabetic State
  • Pilot Projects
  • Obesity
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Insulin
  • Humans