A branched-chain amino acid-related metabolic signature that differentiates obese and lean humans and contributes to insulin resistance.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 WS Jr, Eisenson H, Musante G, Surwit RS, Millington DS, Butler MD, Svetkey LP.
Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. newga002@mc.duke.edu

Metabolomic profiling of obese versus lean humans reveals a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-related metabolite signature that is suggestive of increased catabolism of BCAA and correlated with insulin resistance. To test its impact on metabolic homeostasis, we fed rats on high-fat (HF), HF with supplemented BCAA (HF/BCAA), or standard chow (SC) diets. Despite having reduced food intake and a low rate of weight gain equivalent to the SC group, HF/BCAA rats were as insulin resistant as HF rats. Pair-feeding of HF diet to match the HF/BCAA animals or BCAA addition to SC diet did not cause insulin resistance. Insulin resistance induced by HF/BCAA feeding was accompanied by chronic phosphorylation of mTOR, JNK, and IRS1Ser307 and by accumulation of multiple acylcarnitines in muscle, and it was reversed by the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. Our findings show that in the context of a dietary pattern that includes high fat consumption, BCAA contributes to development of obesity-associated insulin resistance.

shittin hell, perhaps a fatty like me shouldnt be consuming bcaa after all

My reding is that if you're a high fatter, don't take BCAA, but with high protein, would this be different?

bit of a tough one to call based on the abstract alone
it does suggest that you should steer clear of bcaa if doing high fat

it raises many a question for me

control group or control rat- high fat diet with bcaa but a lean musclular rat(s) effect on insulin resistance
what do they deem high fat?

is the metabolite of bcaa present even when a rat lost weight?

julesm wrote:bit of a tough one to call based on the abstract alone
it does suggest that you should steer clear of bcaa if doing high fat

it raises many a question for me

control group or control rat- high fat diet with bcaa but a lean musclular rat(s) effect on insulin resistance
what do they deem high fat?

is the metabolite of bcaa present even when a rat lost weight?

Good questions! I think it does suggest high fat dieters stay away from heavy BCAA supplementation. As for how it effects mTOR thats really interesting. I know mTOR activity is related to insulin and high fatters tend to be doing all they can to improve insulin sensitvity whilst at the same time avoid insulin spikes...but BCAAs are highly insulinic and maybe when taken in superdoses when the body has previously been made more sensitive it cancels this sensitivity out and overdrives the mTOR? Just a guess!!!!

One important question has been missed: what type(s) of fats were the rats consuming?

Most on here know that good fats are vital for health. And so consuming those is a positive thing. But consuming bad fats is not good. What were the rats being fed? I doubt it's good quality (more expensive) fats.