Hormonal
Elevated plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk, though genetic evidence suggests insulin resistance may drive BCAA levels rather than the reverse.
High levels of BCAAs in your blood are a strong indicator of insulin resistance and future diabetes risk. Interestingly, genetic studies suggest that your body's inability to clear BCAAs (due to insulin resistance) causes the high levels, rather than the BCAAs causing the resistance. If you are insulin resistant, focus on improving metabolic health through diet and exercise rather than just supplementing BCAAs.
Association of plasma BCAAs with insulin resistance was reported in obese, non-obese, and non-diabetic individuals... extensive statistical analysis based on Mendelian randomisation... failed to identify significant causal effect of BCAAs on either fasting insulin or HOMA-IR. In contrast, the genetic risk score for insulin resistance traits was significantly associated with increased concentration of plasma BCAAs, indicating a causal impact of insulin resistance on circulating BCAAs.
Why this rating
Strong observational and genetic (Mendelian randomization) evidence, though causality direction is nuanced.
Source
Implication of gut microbiota metabolites in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases
François Brial et al. · Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences · 2018
DOI 10.1007/s00018-018-2901-1
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