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Tanase DM, Valasciuc E, Costea CF, Scripcariu DV, Ouatu A, Hurjui LL, Tarniceriu CC, Floria DE, Ciocoiu M, Baroi LG, Floria M. Duality of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Chronic Cardiovascular Disease: Potential Biomarkers versus Active Pathophysiological Promoters. Nutrients 2024; 16:1972. [PMID: 38931325 PMCID: PMC11206939 DOI: 10.3390/nu16121972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), comprising leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), and valine (Val), are essential nutrients vital for protein synthesis and metabolic regulation via specialized signaling networks. Their association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has become a focal point of scientific debate, with emerging evidence suggesting both beneficial and detrimental roles. This review aims to dissect the multifaceted relationship between BCAAs and cardiovascular health, exploring the molecular mechanisms and clinical implications. Elevated BCAA levels have also been linked to insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), inflammation, and dyslipidemia, which are well-established risk factors for CVD. Central to these processes are key pathways such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activate B cells (NF-κB)-mediated inflammation, and oxidative stress. Additionally, the interplay between BCAA metabolism and gut microbiota, particularly the production of metabolites like trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), adds another layer of complexity. Contrarily, some studies propose that BCAAs may have cardioprotective effects under certain conditions, contributing to muscle maintenance and metabolic health. This review critically evaluates the evidence, addressing the biological basis and signal transduction mechanism, and also discusses the potential for BCAAs to act as biomarkers versus active mediators of cardiovascular pathology. By presenting a balanced analysis, this review seeks to clarify the contentious roles of BCAAs in CVD, providing a foundation for future research and therapeutic strategies required because of the rising prevalence, incidence, and total burden of CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Maria Tanase
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.T.); (A.O.); (D.E.F.); (M.F.)
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi 700111, Romania
| | - Emilia Valasciuc
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.T.); (A.O.); (D.E.F.); (M.F.)
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi 700111, Romania
| | - Claudia Florida Costea
- Department of Ophthalmology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- 2nd Ophthalmology Clinic, “Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu” Emergency Clinical Hospital, 700309 Iași, Romania
| | - Dragos Viorel Scripcariu
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- Regional Institute of Oncology, 700483 Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Ouatu
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.T.); (A.O.); (D.E.F.); (M.F.)
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi 700111, Romania
| | - Loredana Liliana Hurjui
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, Physiology Discipline, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- Hematology Laboratory, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Claudia Cristina Tarniceriu
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences I, Discipline of Anatomy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- Hematology Clinic, “Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Diana Elena Floria
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.T.); (A.O.); (D.E.F.); (M.F.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Manuela Ciocoiu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Livia Genoveva Baroi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
- Department of Vascular Surgery, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Mariana Floria
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (D.M.T.); (A.O.); (D.E.F.); (M.F.)
- Internal Medicine Clinic, “St. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi 700111, Romania
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Mosley JD, Shi M, Agamasu D, Vaitinadin NS, Murthy VL, Shah RV, Bagheri M, Ferguson JF. Branched-chain amino acids and type 2 diabetes: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2024; 32:423-435. [PMID: 38269471 PMCID: PMC10827349 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Genetic studies have suggested that the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) valine, leucine, and isoleucine have a causal association with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, inferences are based on a limited number of genetic loci associated with BCAAs. METHODS Instrumental variables (IVs) for each BCAA were constructed and validated using large well-powered data sets and their association with T2D was tested using a two-sample inverse-variance weighted Mendelian randomization approach. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the accuracy of the findings. A reverse association was assessed using instrumental variables for T2D. RESULTS Estimated effect sizes between BCAA IVs and T2D, excluding outliers, were as follows: valine (β = 0.14 change in log-odds per SD change in valine, 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.33, p = 0.17), leucine (β = 0.15, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.32, p = 0.09), and isoleucine (β = 0.13, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.34, p = 0.24). In contrast, T2D IVs were positively associated with each BCAA, i.e., valine (β = 0.08 per SD change in levels per log-odds change in T2D, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.10, p = 1.8 × 10-9 ), leucine (β = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.09, p = 4.5 × 10-8 ), and isoleucine (β = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.08, p = 2.8 × 10-8 ). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the BCAAs are not mediators of T2D risk but are biomarkers of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Mosley
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mingjian Shi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Venkatesh L. Murthy
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Ravi V. Shah
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Minoo Bagheri
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jane F. Ferguson
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Zuo Z, Tong Y, Li M, Wang Z, Wang X, Guo X, Sun Y, Zhang Z. Effect of genetically determined BCAA levels on cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors: A Mendelian randomization study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2023; 33:2406-2412. [PMID: 37788949 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Observational studies have demonstrated that serum branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are associated with the risk of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and their risk factors. However, the causal effect is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of genetically determined BCAA levels on CVDs and their risk factors using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS AND RESULTS We performed univariable and multivariable MR analyses using summary-level data from multiple GWASs and the FinnGen consortium to investigate the association between BCAA levels and the risk of CVDs (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and intracerebral hemorrhage) and their risk factors (atrial fibrillation, hypertension, heart failure, and valvular heart disease). We used the random-effects IVW approach as the primary statistical method and incorporated MR estimates from different data sources using the fixed-effects model. We found genetically determined total and individual BCAA levels and a high risk of hypertension. However, there is no evidence of a causal relationship between BCAA levels and 3 cardiovascular diseases and other their risk factors. The odds of hypertension increased per 1-SD increase in BCAA levels (OR = 1.02 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04; P = 0.005), valine (OR = 1.02 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03; P<0.0001), leucine (OR = 1.02 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04; P<0.01), and isoleucine (OR = 1.02 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03; P < 0.0001). This result was also significant in the multivariable MR. CONCLUSIONS This MR study suggests that total and individual BCAA levels could be associated with a high risk of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zuo
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Yi Tong
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Minghua Li
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhenggui Wang
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xishu Wang
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xiaoxue Guo
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department, Cardiology Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
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