Cumulative consumption of branched-chain amino acids and incidence of type 2 diabetes

Yan Zheng, Yanping Li, Qibin Qi, Adela Hruby, Jo Ann E. Manson, Walter C. Willett, Brian M. Wolpin, Frank B. Hu, Lu Qi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

110 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs, including leucine, isoleucine and valine) were recently related to risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Dietary intake is the only source of BCAAs; however, little is known about whether habitual dietary intake of BCAAs affects risk of T2D. Methods: We assessed associations between cumulative consumption of BCAAs and risk of T2D among participants from three prospective cohorts: the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; followed from 1980 to 2012); NHS II (followed from 1991 to 2011); and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; followed from 1986 to 2010). Results: We documented 16 097 incident T2D events during up to 32 years of follow-up. After adjustment for demographics and traditional risk factors, higher total BCAA intake was associated with an increased risk of T2D in men and women. In the meta-analysis of all cohorts, comparing participants in the highest quintile with those in the lowest quintile of intake, hazard ratios (95%confidence intervals) were for leucine 1.13 (1.07-1.19), for isoleucine 1.13 (1.07-1.19) and for valine 1.11 (1.05-1.17) (all P for trend < 0.001). In a healthy subsample, higher dietary BCAAs were significantly associated with higher plasma levels of these amino acids (P for trend = 0.01). Conclusions: Our data suggest that high consumption of BCAAs is associated with an increased risk of T2D.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1482-1492
Number of pages11
JournalInternational journal of epidemiology
Volume45
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2016

Keywords

  • Branched-chain amino acids
  • Cohort study
  • Diet
  • Type 2 diabetes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology

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