The effects of branched-chain amino acid granules on the accumulation of tissue triglycerides and uncoupling proteins in diet-induced obese mice

Endocr J. 2011;58(3):161-70. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k10e-221. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Abstract

It has been demonstrated the involvement of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on obesity and related metabolic disorder. We investigated the effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on obesity and on glucose/fat homeostasis in mice fed on a high-fat (45%) diet. BCAA was dissolved in 0.5% methylcellulose and added to the drinking water (BCAA-treated group). A high-fat diet was provided for 6 weeks and BCAA was given for 2 weeks. The BCAA-treated group gained almost 7% less body weight and had less epididymal adipose tissue (WAT) mass than the control group (p<0.05). BCAA supplementation also reduced the hepatic and skeletal muscle triglyceride (TG) concentrations (p<0.05). The hepatic levels of PPAR-alpha and uncoupling protein (UCP) 2, and the level of PPAR-alpha and UCP3 in the skeletal muscle were greater in the BCAA-treated group than in the control mice (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that the liver and muscle TG concentration are less in BCAA-treated group. BCAA affects PPAR-alpha and UCP expression in muscle and liver tissue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Homeostasis / drug effects
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Obesity / etiology*
  • Obesity / metabolism*
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / metabolism*
  • Uncoupling Protein 2
  • Uncoupling Protein 3

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
  • Dietary Fats
  • Ion Channels
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • PPAR alpha
  • Triglycerides
  • Ucp2 protein, mouse
  • Ucp3 protein, mouse
  • Uncoupling Protein 2
  • Uncoupling Protein 3
  • Glucose