Cited by 396Amino Acid Enzymes and MetabolismMuscle metabolism and nutritionDiet, Metabolism, and Disease

Emerging perspectives on essential amino acid metabolism in obesity and the insulin-resistant state

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Adams, Sean H.·2011·Advances in Nutrition

Abstract

Dysregulation of insulin action is most often considered in the context of impaired glucose homeostasis, with the defining feature of diabetes mellitus being elevated blood glucose concentration. Complications arising from the hyperglycemia accompanying frank diabetes are well known and epidemiological studies point to higher risk toward development of metabolic disease in persons with impaired glucose tolerance. Although the central role of proper blood sugar control in maintaining metabolic health is well established, recent developments have begun to shed light on associations between compromised insulin action [obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)] and altered intermediary metabolism of fats and amino acids. For amino acids, changes in blood concentrations of select essential amino acids and their derivatives, in particular BCAA, sulfur amino acids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, are apparent with obesity and insulin resistance, often before the onset of clinically diagnosed T2DM. This review provides an overview of these changes and places recent observations from metabolomics research into the context of historical reports in the areas of biochemistry and nutritional biology. Based on this synthesis, a model is proposed that links the FFA-rich environment of obesity/insulin resistance and T2DM with diminution of BCAA catabolic enzyme activity, changes in methionine oxidation and cysteine/cystine generation, and tissue redox balance (NADH/NAD+).

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  • BCAAs have recently been demonstrated to accumulate in the context of obesity and insulin resistance.

    “BCAAs have recently been demonstrated to accumulate in the context of obesity and insulin resistance (Adams, 2011; Newgard et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2011), though the mechanisms leading to this metabolic phenotype (i.e., higher intake, decreased catabolism) are not yet clear.”
  • Mpc inhibition may potentiate oxidation of BCAAs or other amino acids that accumulate in the context of insulin resistance.

    “Mpc inhibition may potentiate oxidation of BCAAs or other amino acids that accumulate in the context of insulin resistance (Adams, 2011; Newgard et al., 2009; Wang et al., 2011).”

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Authors
Adams, S. H.
Affiliations
Agricultural Research Service (US)
Corresponding author
Adams, Sean H.
Venue
Advances in Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-11
Volume
2
Issue
6
Pages
445-456
ISSN
  • 2156-5376 (ISSN-L)
  • 2161-8313
OpenAlex
W1995187187
Cited by
394
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 12
FWCI
2.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Advances in Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (5306‐51530‐019‐00, 5306‐51530‐019)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Agricultural Research Service (5306‐51530‐019‐00)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK078328-02S, R01DK078328)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
Keywords
obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, branched-chain amino acids, sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine oxidation, redox homeostasis, free fatty acids, metabolomics, impaired glucose tolerance
MeSH terms
Amino Acids, Sulfur, Transaminases, Animals, Cysteine, Cystine, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Methionine, Models, Biological, Obesity, Oxidation-Reduction, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Oxidative Stress, Amino Acids, Aromatic, 3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)

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