Branched-chain amino acids are associated with cardiometabolic risk profiles found already in lean, overweight and obese young

J Nutr Biochem. 2016 Jun:32:123-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.02.007. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

Abstract

Cardiovascular risk is increased in obese subjects. Nevertheless, some overweight and obese remain cardiometabolically healthy (CMH), and normal-weight persons develop cardiovascular disease (CVD). Herein, we investigate the potential of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to identify an increased CVD risk in a cross-sectional study of 666 adults and juveniles (age 25.3±12.8years), classified as lean, overweight or obese. Cardiometabolic groups were defined by cutoffs of systolic blood pressure<130mmHg, diastolic blood pressure<85mmHg, glucose<125mg/dl, triglycerides<150mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol>40mg/dl (males), HDL-cholesterol>50mg/dl (females) and HOMA-IR<5. CMH had ≤1 cutoff, and cardiometabolically abnormal (CMA) had ≥2 cutoffs. Amino acids were measured by high-pressure lipid chromatography after precipitation of serum with perchloric acid and derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde. Valine correlated with 5, leucine correlated with 3 and isoleucine correlated with 5 of the cardiac risk classification factors. Valine and leucine were significantly higher in the obese (P<.001, P=.015, respectively), overweight (P<.001, P=.015, respectively) and lean (P=.024, P=.012, respectively) CMA compared to CMH subjects. Isoleucine showed except of the lean group the same results. Taken together, BCAAs, especially valine and leucine, are proposed as a cardiometabolic risk marker independent of body mass index (BMI) category.

Keywords: Body mass index; Branched-chain amino acids; Cardiometabolic risk.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / blood*
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Glucose Metabolism Disorders / epidemiology
  • Glucose Metabolism Disorders / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Male
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Obesity, Metabolically Benign / blood
  • Obesity, Metabolically Benign / metabolism
  • Obesity, Metabolically Benign / physiopathology
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / metabolism
  • Overweight / physiopathology*
  • Pediatric Obesity / blood
  • Pediatric Obesity / metabolism
  • Pediatric Obesity / physiopathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk
  • Thinness / blood
  • Thinness / metabolism
  • Thinness / physiopathology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
  • Biomarkers