Research Article Details
Article ID: | A02703 |
PMID: | 34277974 |
Source: | Endocrinol Diabetes Metab |
Title: | Impact of lifestyle Intervention on branched-chain amino acid catabolism and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with obesity. |
Abstract: | Insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity associates with a sex-dependent metabolic 'signature' comprising branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), glutamate and C3/C5 acylcarnitines (C3/C5), implicating altered flux through BCAA catabolic pathways. Here, we investigated the effects of lifestyle intervention on BCAA catabolism and insulin sensitivity. We hypothesized (1) weight reduction and improved insulin sensitivity associate with enhanced BCAA catabolism; (2) baseline BCAAs and their metabolic by-products predict changes in weight and insulin sensitivity during lifestyle intervention. Methods: A 33 adolescents with obesity were studied before and after 6 months of lifestyle intervention. Principal component analysis and multiple linear regression models were used to correlate changes in metabolic factors with changes in weight and insulin sensitivity assessed by HOMA-IR, adiponectin and ratio of triglyceride (TG) to HDL. Baseline metabolic factors were used as explanatory variables in prediction models. Results: Weight reduction was associated with reductions in BCAA, glutamate, and C3/C5 (p = .002) and increases in urea cycle AA (p = .029), suggesting an increase in BCAA catabolism. Increases in urea cycle AA during weight reduction were associated with increases in adiponectin, a marker of insulin sensitivity. Markers of insulin resistance (high BCAA, glutamate, and C3/C5 and low urea cycle AA) at baseline predicted increases in metrics of insulin sensitivity (decreased TG/HDL and increased adiponectin) during lifestyle intervention. Conclusions: Weight reduction in adolescents is associated with increases in BCAA catabolism and improvements in insulin sensitivity. Our study underscores the therapeutic potential of manipulating BCAA catabolism to treat obesity-associated insulin resistance in adolescents and prevent progression to T2D. |
DOI: | 10.1002/edm2.250 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S08 | Lifestyle measures | Lifestyle intervention; weight loss; diet adaptation; dietary interventions; lifestyle modifications; Exercise | -- | -- | Details |
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D201 | L-Carnitine | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D050 | Branched-chain amino acids | Biological drug | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D062 | Carnitine complex | Supplement | DB00583 | SLC22A4; SLC22A5; CRAT; MPO | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |