Research

Hormonal

In normoglycemic Japanese adults, higher plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, valine), glutamate, and tyrosine are positively correlated with visceral adiposity and insulin resistance, whereas higher levels of glycine, glutamine, and citrulline are negatively correlated with these metabolic indices.

For individuals with normal blood sugar, monitoring amino acid profiles (specifically BCAAs, glycine, and glutamate) may provide early insights into insulin resistance and visceral fat accumulation. While this study is observational, it highlights that metabolic health is complex and involves more than just glucose levels, potentially allowing for earlier lifestyle interventions.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Obesity or visceral obesity was associated with higher levels of branched-chain AAs (isoleucine, leucine, and valine), lysine, tryptophan, cystine, and glutamate but lower levels of asparagine, citrulline, glutamine, glycine, and serine (p < 0.04)... The fasting and 2-h plasma glucose levels or the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were positively correlated with valine, glutamate, and tyrosine levels but negatively correlated with citrulline, glutamine, and glycine levels.
Chisa Takashina et al. · Nutrition & Metabolism · 2016

Why this rating

Observational cross-sectional study with a relatively small sample size (n=83) and specific demographic (Japanese, normal glucose tolerance).

Source

Associations among the plasma amino acid profile, obesity, and glucose metabolism in Japanese adults with normal glucose tolerance

Chisa Takashina et al. · Nutrition & Metabolism · 2016

DOI 10.1186/s12986-015-0059-5

cross_sectional · n=83Cited 188×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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