Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Brain Function
Open accessAbstract
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) influence brain function by modifying large, neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport at the blood-brain barrier. Transport is shared by several LNAAs, notably the BCAAs and the aromatic amino acids (ArAAs), and is competitive. Consequently, when plasma BCAA concentrations rise, which can occur in response to food ingestion or BCAA administration, or with the onset of certain metabolic diseases (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes), brain BCAA concentrations rise, and ArAA concentrations decline. Such effects occur acutely and chronically. Such reductions in brain ArAA concentrations have functional consequences: biochemically, they reduce the synthesis and the release of neurotransmitters derived from ArAAs, notably serotonin (from tryptophan) and catecholamines (from tyrosine and phenylalanine). The functional effects of such neurochemical changes include altered hormonal function, blood pressure, and affective state. Although the BCAAs thus have biochemical and functional effects in the brain, few attempts have been made to characterize time-course or dose-response relations for such effects. And, no studies have attempted to identify levels of BCAA intake that might produce adverse effects on the brain. The only "model" of very high BCAA exposure is a very rare genetic disorder, maple syrup urine disease, a feature of which is substantial brain dysfunction but that probably cannot serve as a useful model for excessive BCAA intake by normal individual…
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BCAAs participate indirectly and directly in a variety of biochemical functions in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
“They participate indirectly and directly in a variety of biochemical functions in the peripheral and central nervous systems (Brosnan and Brosnan, 2006;Fernstrom, 2005;Sperringer et al., 2017).”
From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Fernstrom, 2005
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- Authors
- Fernstrom, J. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fernstrom, John D.
- Venue
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-06
- Volume
- 135
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1539S-1546S
- ISSN
- 0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1893551673
- Cited by
- 514
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 0.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Clinical Biochemistry › Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Keywords
- branched-chain amino acids, brain function, blood-brain barrier, aromatic amino acids, tryptophan, serotonin, catecholamines, tyrosine, phenylalanine, maple syrup urine disease, dose-response relationship, adverse effects, diabetes mellitus, amino acid supplementation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Amino Acids, Branched-Chain, Animals, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain, Child, Clinical Trials as Topic, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Humans, Male, Metabolic Diseases, Neurotransmitter Agents, Rats
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