title: Consumption of Branched-Chain Amino Acids Is Inversely Associated with Central Obesity and Cardiometabolic Features in a Population of Brazilian Middle-Aged Men: Potential Role of Leucine Intake.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential associations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) consumption with central obesity (CObesity) and cardiometabolic risk factors in a population of Brazilian middle-aged men. Special attention was given to leucine intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred ninety-six middle-aged men (Age: 50.5 ± 5.0 years; Body mass index: 25.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometry, lifestyle features, blood biochemical parameters were assessed and dietary intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire. Participants were classified by the occurrence of CObesity, hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HWP) and metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in the BCAA highest tertile (≥0.17 g/kg/d) presented lower occurrence of CObesity (36.0% vs 72.4%, P<0.01, z=-5.10), HTG (17.0% vs 30.6% P<0.032, z=-2.32), HWP (23.0% vs 46.9%, P<0.01, z=-3.57) and MetS (19.0% vs 34.7%, P<0.01, z=-2.57). They also exhibited lower values for Castelli index (total cholesterol:HDL-c) and triglycerides: HDL-c ratio than those in the first tertile, regardless of interfering factors (i.e. habitual physical activity, work position, smoking habit, and energy intake). Interestingly, leucine consumption showed similar associations with cardiometabolic risk factors, as compared to BCAA consumption (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BCAA consumption was cross-sectionally and negatively associated with relevant cardiometabolic risk factors in a population of Brazilian middle-aged men. The content of leucine in BCAA consumption may have contributed to such relationship.
authors.affiliation: H.H.M. Hermsdorff, Department of Nutrition and Health, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenue PH Rolfs, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36 570-900, Brazil. Telephone: +55 31 3899-1269, fax: +55 31 3899-2541. E-mail: helenhermana@ufv.br.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Cogate
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Alfenas
authors.forename: H H M
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hermsdorff
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D007930:Leucine