Effects of essential amino acids on lipid metabolism in mice and humans

Eight amino acids are considered essential for human nutrition, and three of them, including leucine, isoleucine and valine, are called as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). We recently discovered that dietary deficiency of any BCAA for 7 days rapidly reduces the abdominal fat mass in mice. The goal of this study was to investigate (1) whether dietary deficiency of the other five essential amino acids (EAAs), including phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine and lysine, would produce similar effects and (2) whether an association between serum AAs and obesity was observed in humans in Chinese Han population. Similar to BCAAs deprivation, dietary deficiency of any of these five EAAs for 7 days significantly reduced abdominal fat mass, which is likely caused by increased energy expenditure. Expression of genes and proteins related to lipolysis, however, were differentially regulated by different EAAs. These results suggest a crucial role of EAAs deprivation on lipid metabolism in mice. Our human studies revealed that levels of four EAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine and phenylalanine) were elevated in obese humans compared with those in lean controls in Chinese Han population. Based on the results obtained from mice, we speculate that these four EAAs might play important roles in human obesity.

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Association of plasma homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene variant with schizophrenia: A Chinese Han population-based case–control study

Psychiatry Research ◽

10.1016/j.psychres.2008.05.009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 168 (3) ◽

pp. 205-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Lei-guang Feng ◽

Zhi-wei Song ◽

Feng Xin ◽

Jian Hu

Keyword(s):

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Population Based ◽

Case Control ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Chinese Han Population ◽

Gene Variant ◽

Chinese Han ◽

Han Population ◽

Control Study

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A preliminary association study of fat mass and obesity associated gene polymorphisms and degenerative disc disease in a Chinese Han population

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060513503761 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 205-212 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lifeng Lao ◽

Guibin Zhong ◽

Xinfeng Li ◽

Zude Liu

Keyword(s):

Association Study ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Degenerative Disc Disease ◽

Gene Polymorphisms ◽

Chinese Han Population ◽

Disc Disease ◽

Chinese Han ◽

Han Population ◽

Degenerative Disc

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Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms within ADAM12 and Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han Population

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/518643 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lin Wang ◽

Lin Guo ◽

Fengde Tian ◽

Ruihu Hao ◽

Tiejun Yang

Keyword(s):

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Population Based ◽

Recessive Model ◽

Chinese Han Population ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Chinese Han ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Han Population ◽

Genotype Frequencies ◽

Increased Risk

Objective. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex arthritic condition in which the genetic factor plays a major role. One of the candidate genes of is the ADAM12 gene, but no consistency has been reached till now. This study aims to investigate the potential role of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADAM12 gene in susceptibility to knee OA and its progression in Chinese Han population.Methods. The rs1278279, rs3740199, rs1044122, and rs1871054 polymorphisms were genotyped and compared in a population based cohort consisting of 164 OA subjects and 200 age- and gender-matched controls.Results. The SNP rs1871054 was found with increased risk of OA susceptibility in comparing the genotype frequencies between the case and control groups no matter for which model of comparison (allele level, dominant model, recessive model, and extreme genotype model). Additionally, the SNP rs1871054 was found associated with increased OA severity according to the K/L grade.Conclusion. In summary, we have identified that the rs1871054 variant within the ADAM12 gene is a risk factor for increased osteoarthritis susceptibility and severity.

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Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components Are Associated With Altered Amino Acid Profile in Chinese Han Population

Frontiers in Endocrinology ◽

10.3389/fendo.2021.795044 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Shuiya Sun ◽

Dongjuan He ◽

Cheng Luo ◽

Xihua Lin ◽

Jiahua Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Future Development ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Amino Acid Profile ◽

Chinese Han Population ◽

Chinese Han ◽

Han Population ◽

The Future

ObjectiveRecent studies have found that the levels of plasma amino acids, such as branched-chain amino acids and aromatic amino acids, were associated with visceral obesity, insulin resistance, future development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have involved a Chinese Han population. This study aimed to examine the association between amino acid profile and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in the Chinese Han population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study, which enrolled a cohort of 473 participants from a community. We employed the isotope internal standard method to determine the plasma concentrations of 28 amino acids using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Participants were divided into MetS (n = 72) and non-MetS groups (n = 401) to analyze the association between amino acids and MetS and its components.ResultsThe prevalence of MetS was 15.2% according to the criteria. Plasma concentrations of isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), valine (Val), tyrosine (Tyr), tryptophan (Trp), phenylalanine (Phe), glutamic acid (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp), alanine (Ala), histidine (His), methionine (Met), asparagine (Asn), and proline (Pro) were significantly higher in the MetS group than those in the non-MetS group (P < 0.05), but taurine (Tau) was significantly lower (P < 0.05). When MetS components were increased, the concentrations of these 13 amino acids significantly increased (P < 0.05), but Tau concentration was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). We extracted the amino acid profile by principal component analysis (PCA), PC1 and PC2, which extracted from the 14 amino acids, were significantly associated with MetS (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.723, 1.325–2.085 and 1.325, 1.043–1.684, respectively). A total of 260 non-MetS participants were followed up effectively, and 42 participants developed new-onset MetS within 5 years. We found that the amino acid profile of PC1 was linked to the occurrence of future MetS. Decreased Tau was correlated with the future development of MetS.ConclusionParticipants with MetS exhibit an abnormal amino acid profile, and its components gradually increase when these amino acids are altered. Amino acid PCA profile can be employed for assessing and monitoring MetS risk. Finally, decreased Tau may be linked to the future development of MetS.

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