title: Beneficial effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on glycemic control in chronic hepatitis C patients with insulin resistance: implications for type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) improve disorders of albumin metabolism, quality of life, subjective symptoms, and prognosis in patients with chronic hepatitis. However, it remains unclear whether they improve insulin resistance. We examined the effects of BCAAs on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C and insulin resistance. Individuals with a definitive diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C and insulin resistance were eligible for participation. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to the BCAA group or a control group. Participants were then crossed over to the other treatment for a further 12 weeks. Baseline clinical features, laboratory markers, fatty acid levels, and insulin sensitivity, assessed with oral glucose tolerance tests and a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, were also examined before and 12 and 24 weeks after the beginning of the study. Of the 27 patients who completed the study, 14 began in the BCAA group and 13 began as controls. There were no significant differences in glucose metabolism parameters or lipid profiles between the groups. HbA1c values were improved in 10 patients and worsened or remained unchanged in 17 patients. The only predictive variable for change in HbA1c was the baseline Matsuda index: the lower the index, the greater the improvement in HbA1c values. BCAA therapy did not have adverse effects on glucose tolerance or insulin sensitivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C and insulin resistance. Moreover, it had a therapeutic effect on HbA1c values in patients with marked peripheral (primarily muscle) insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Homeostasis, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Toshinari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Misu
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sunagozaka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Eishiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizukoshi
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001823:Body Composition; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human