Research
Energy balance
BCAAs can stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis via the eNOS/NO/SIRT1/PGC-1α and mTOR/YY1 pathways, but this effect is tissue-specific and can be overridden by high levels of saturated fatty acids which suppress PGC-1α.
BCAAs can support mitochondrial health by stimulating biogenesis pathways, but this benefit can be canceled out by a diet high in saturated fats. To support mitochondrial function, combine BCAA intake (or natural sources) with a balanced diet low in saturated fats.
GoodQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
BCAAs can induce mitochondrial biogenesis in different tissues according to different mechanisms... Leucine can increase the gene expression of PGC-1α through three pathways... However, a long-chain saturated fatty acid palmitate downregulated PGC-1α expression by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)... and inhibited mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle cells.
Why this rating
Review paper summarizing mechanistic studies.
Source
Coordinated Modulation of Energy Metabolism and Inflammation by Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Fatty Acids
Zhenhong Ye et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2020
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2020.00617
narrative_reviewCited 166×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Elevated circulating levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and fatty acids (FAs) induce insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and activating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways (NF-κB and NLRP3).Good
- Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) promote inflammation and insulin resistance by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathways, whereas unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) like EPA/DHA can inhibit these pathways.Good
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