The Emerging Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Insulin Resistance and Metabolism

Insulin is required for maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Despite the importance of insulin sensitivity to metabolic health, the mechanisms that induce insulin resistance remain unclear. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) belong to the essential amino acids, which are both direct and indirect nutr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrients 2016-07, Vol.8 (7), p.405
Main Author: Yoon, Mee-Sup
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aerobiosis
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain - blood
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain - metabolism
Animals
Blood Glucose - metabolism
branched chain amino acids
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood
Disease Models, Animal
essential amino acids
glucose
homeostasis
Humans
insulin
Insulin - blood
Insulin Resistance
mammals
Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
Multiprotein Complexes - genetics
Multiprotein Complexes - metabolism
noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
obesity
Obesity - blood
rapamycin
Review
Risk Factors
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism
toxic substances
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Summary:Insulin is required for maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Despite the importance of insulin sensitivity to metabolic health, the mechanisms that induce insulin resistance remain unclear. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) belong to the essential amino acids, which are both direct and indirect nutrient signals. Even though BCAAs have been reported to improve metabolic health, an increased BCAA plasma level is associated with a high risk of metabolic disorder and future insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) by BCAAs has been suggested to cause insulin resistance. In addition, defective BCAA oxidative metabolism might occur in obesity, leading to a further accumulation of BCAAs and toxic intermediates. This review provides the current understanding of the mechanism of BCAA-induced mTORC1 activation, as well as the effect of mTOR activation on metabolic health in terms of insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, the effects of impaired BCAA metabolism will be discussed in detail.
ISSN:2072-6643
2072-6643
DOI:10.3390/nu8070405