Cited by 639Animal Nutrition and PhysiologyMuscle metabolism and nutritionAmino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism

Novel metabolic and physiological functions of branched chain amino acids: a review

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Zhang, Shihai, Zeng, Xiangfang, Ren, Man, Mao, Xiangbing, Qiao, Shiyan·2017·Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

Abstract

It is widely known that branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are not only elementary components for building muscle tissue but also participate in increasing protein synthesis in animals and humans. BCAA (isoleucine, leucine and valine) regulate many key signaling pathways, the most classic of which is the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. This signaling pathway connects many diverse physiological and metabolic roles. Recent years have witnessed many striking developments in determining the novel functions of BCAA including: (1) Insufficient or excessive levels of BCAA in the diet enhances lipolysis. (2) BCAA, especially isoleucine, play a major role in enhancing glucose consumption and utilization by up-regulating intestinal and muscular glucose transporters. (3) Supplementation of leucine in the diet enhances meat quality in finishing pigs. (4) BCAA are beneficial for mammary health, milk quality and embryo growth. (5) BCAA enhance intestinal development, intestinal amino acid transportation and mucin production. (6) BCAA participate in up-regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. In addition, abnormally elevated BCAA levels in the blood (decreased BCAA catabolism) are a good biomarker for the early detection of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. This review will provide some insights into these novel metabolic and physiological functions of BCAA.

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  • Branched-chain amino acids regulate key signaling pathways, most notably activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR).

    “BCAAs regulate key signaling pathways, most notably the activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), which serves as the master regulator of cell growth and proliferation (331).”

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  1. [43]Koopman R Wagenmakers AJ Manders RJ Zorenc AH Senden JM Gorselink M Combined ingestion of protein and free leucine with carbohydrate increases postexercise muscle protein synthesis in vivo in male subjects Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2005 288 E645 E653 10.1152/ajpendo.00413.2004 15562251 · DOI

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Authors
Zhang, S., Zeng, X., Ren, M., Mao, X., & Qiao, S.
Affiliations
  • South China Agricultural University (CN)
  • State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition (CN)
  • Anhui University of Science and Technology (CN)
  • Sichuan Agricultural University (CN)
Corresponding author
Zeng, Xiangfang
Venue
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Published
2017-01-23
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
10-10
ISSN
  • 1674-9782 (ISSN-L)
  • 2049-1891
OpenAlex
W2582679467
Cited by
639
References
123
Citations by year
2026: 53 · 2025: 91 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 84 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 80 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 12
FWCI
5.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of animal science and biotechnology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Key Basic Research Program (2012CB124704)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Nutrition and Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
Keywords
branched-chain amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, valine, mTOR signaling, protein synthesis, lipolysis, glucose transport, meat quality, milk quality, embryo growth, intestinal development, mucin production, immune response, BCAA catabolism, obesity biomarkers, diabetes biomarkers

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