Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition pp 229–238Cite as

Branched Chain Amino Acids Supplementation and Glycemic Control

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1399 Accesses

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) that include valine, leucine, and isoleucine are essential amino acids and are not synthesized de novo in organisms. Currently, in Japan, BCAAs supplementation is clinically used and covered by insurance only for patients with chronic liver diseases. BCAA supplementation improves disorders of albumin metabolism, quality of life, subjective symptoms, and prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis [1]. Insulin resistance increases in chronic liver disease and is a risk factor for the progression of liver pathology, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and a decrease in long-term survival [2, 3]. Therefore, insulin resistance is an important therapeutic target in patients at any stage of chronic liver disease. It remains unclear whether BCAAs improve insulin resistance in humans; both beneficial and deleterious effects of BCAAs are reported based on experimental and clinical observations. In the current review, we focus on the current issues on BCAA and glucose homeostasis from both experimental and clinical points of view.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Marchesini G, Bianchi G, Merli M, Amodio P, Panella C, Loguercio C, Rossi Fanelli F, Abbiati R, Italian BSG. Nutritional supplementation with branched-chain amino acids in advanced cirrhosis: a double-blind, randomized trial. Gastroenterology. 2003;124:1792–801.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kita Y, Mizukoshi E, Takamura T, Sakurai M, Takata Y, Arai K, Yamashita T, Nakamoto Y, Kaneko S. Impact of diabetes mellitus on prognosis of patients infected with hepatitis C virus. Metab Clin Exp. 2007;56:1682–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Komura T, Mizukoshi E, Kita Y, Sakurai M, Takata Y, Arai K, Yamashita T, Ohta T, Shimizu K, Nakamoto Y, Honda M, Takamura T, Kaneko S. Impact of diabetes on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical treatment in patients with viral hepatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102:1939–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Felig P, Marliss E, Cahill Jr GF. Plasma amino acid levels and insulin secretion in obesity. N Engl J Med. 1969;281:811–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Batch BC, Shah SH, Newgard CB, Turer CB, Haynes C, Bain JR, Muehlbauer M, Patel MJ, Stevens RD, Appel LJ, Newby LK, Svetkey LP. Branched chain amino acids are novel biomarkers for discrimination of metabolic wellness. Metab Clin Exp. 2013;62:961–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wang TJ, Larson MG, Vasan RS, Cheng S, Rhee EP, McCabe E, Lewis GD, Fox CS, Jacques PF, Fernandez C, O’Donnell CJ, Carr SA, Mootha VK, Florez JC, Souza A, Melander O, Clish CB, Gerszten RE. Metabolite profiles and the risk of developing diabetes. Nat Med. 2011;17:448–53.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Newgard CB, An J, Bain JR, Muehlbauer MJ, Stevens RD, Lien LF, Haqq AM, Shah SH, Arlotto M, Slentz CA, Rochon J, Gallup D, Ilkayeva O, Wenner BR, Yancy Jr WS, Eisenson H, Musante G, Surwit RS, Millington DS, Butler MD, Svetkey LP. A branched-chain amino acid-related metabolic signature that differentiates obese and lean humans and contributes to insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2009;9:311–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. She P, Van Horn C, Reid T, Hutson SM, Cooney RN, Lynch CJ. Obesity-related elevations in plasma leucine are associated with alterations in enzymes involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;293:E1552–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sears DD, Hsiao G, Hsiao A, Yu JG, Courtney CH, Ofrecio JM, Chapman J, Subramaniam S. Mechanisms of human insulin resistance and thiazolidinedione-mediated insulin sensitization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009;106:18745–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Nishitani S, Takehana K, Fujitani S, Sonaka I. Branched-chain amino acids improve glucose metabolism in rats with liver cirrhosis. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2005;288:G1292–300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Broca C, Breil V, Cruciani-Guglielmacci C, Manteghetti M, Rouault C, Derouet M, Rizkalla S, Pau B, Petit P, Ribes G, Ktorza A, Gross R, Reach G, Taouis M. Insulinotropic agent ID-1101 (4-hydroxyisoleucine) activates insulin signaling in rat. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004;287:E463–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hinault C, Mothe-Satney I, Gautier N, Lawrence Jr JC, Van Obberghen E. Amino acids and leucine allow insulin activation of the PKB/mTOR pathway in normal adipocytes treated with wortmannin and in adipocytes from db/db mice. FASEB J. 2004;18:1894–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nishitani S, Matsumura T, Fujitani S, Sonaka I, Miura Y, Yagasaki K. Leucine promotes glucose uptake in skeletal muscles of rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002;299:693–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Laplante M, Sabatini DM. mTOR signaling in growth control and disease. Cell. 2012;149:274–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Matsumura T, Morinaga Y, Fujitani S, Takehana K, Nishitani S, Sonaka I. Oral administration of branched-chain amino acids activates the mTOR signal in cirrhotic rat liver. Hepatol Res. 2005;33:27–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Tremblay F, Marette A. Amino acid and insulin signaling via the mTOR/p70 S6 kinase pathway. A negative feedback mechanism leading to insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 2001;276:38052–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chaveroux C, Eichner LJ, Dufour CR, Shatnawi A, Khoutorsky A, Bourque G, Sonenberg N, Giguere V. Molecular and genetic crosstalks between mTOR and ERRalpha are key determinants of rapamycin-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver. Cell Metab. 2013;17:586–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fang Y, Westbrook R, Hill C, Boparai RK, Arum O, Spong A, Wang F, Javors MA, Chen J, Sun LY, Bartke A. Duration of rapamycin treatment has differential effects on metabolism in mice. Cell Metab. 2013;17:456–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Urata Y, Okita K, Korenaga K, Uchida K, Yamasaki T, Sakaida I. The effect of supplementation with branched-chain amino acids in patients with liver cirrhosis. Hepatol Res. 2007;37:510–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kawaguchi T, Nagao Y, Matsuoka H, Ide T, Sata M. Branched-chain amino acid-enriched supplementation improves insulin resistance in patients with chronic liver disease. Int J Mol Med. 2008;22:105–12.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Tatpati LL, Irving BA, Tom A, Bigelow ML, Klaus K, Short KR, Nair KS. The effect of branched chain amino acids on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in young and elderly adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95:894–902.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Takeshita Y, Takamura T, Kita Y, Ando H, Ueda T, Kato K, Misu H, Sunagozaka H, Sakai Y, Yamashita T, Mizukoshi E, Honda M, Kaneko S. Beneficial effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on glycemic control in chronic hepatitis C patients with insulin resistance: implications for type 2 diabetes. Metab Clin Exp. 2012;61:1388–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Comprehensive Metabology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

    Toshinari Takamura M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Disease Control and Homeostasis, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

    Yumie Takeshita M.D., Ph.D. & Shuichi Kaneko M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Toshinari Takamura M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yumie Takeshita M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuichi Kaneko M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshinari Takamura M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Intensive Care, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

  2. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Takamura, T., Takeshita, Y., Kaneko, S. (2015). Branched Chain Amino Acids Supplementation and Glycemic Control. In: Rajendram, R., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Branched Chain Amino Acids in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1914-7_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1914-7_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1913-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1914-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation