title: 4-Hydroxyisoleucine: a plant-derived treatment for metabolic syndrome.
abstract: The plant fenugreek has been used for centuries as a treatment for diabetes. This article presents evidence that the major isomer of 4-hydroxyisoleucine, an atypical branched-chain amino acid derived from fenugreek, is responsible for the effects of this plant on glucose and lipid metabolism. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine was demonstrated to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion by a direct effect on pancreatic islets. In addition to stimulating insulin secretion, 4-hydroxyisoleucine reduced insulin resistance in muscle and/or liver by activating insulin receptor substrate-associated phosphoinositide 3 (PI3) kinase activity. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine also reduced body weight in diet-induced obese mice. The decrease in body weight was associated with a marked decrease in both plasma insulin and glucose levels, both of which are elevated in this animal model. Finally, 4-hydroxyisoleucine decreased elevated plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in a hamster model of diabetes. Based on the beneficial metabolic properties that have been demonstrated, 4-hydroxyisoleucine, a simple, plant-derived amino acid, may represent an attractive new candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, all key components of metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: BELLUS Health Inc, 275 Boulevard Armand-Frappier, Laval, Quebec H7V 4A7, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jetté
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eugeni
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levens