title: Branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, insulin resistance and liver specific ectopic fat storage in overweight to obese subjects.
abstract: Amino acids may interfere with insulin action, particularly in obese individuals. We hypothesized that increased circulating branched-chain and aromatic amino acids herald insulin resistance and ectopic fat storage, particularly hepatic fat accumulation.
  
  
  
  We measured fasting branched-chain and aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine) by mass spectrometry in 111 overweight to obese subjects. We applied abdominal magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy to assess adipose tissue distribution and ectopic fat storage, respectively. Plasma branched-chain amino acids concentrations were related to insulin sensitivity and intrahepatic fat independent from adiposity, age and gender, but not to abdominal adipose tissue or intramyocellular fat.
  
  
  
  In weight stable overweight and obese individuals, branched-chain amino acid concentrations are specifically associated with hepatic fat storage and insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haufe
authors.affiliation: Metanomics Health GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engeli
authors.affiliation: Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medical School and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.affiliation: Working Group Cardiac MRI, Clinic for Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Germany; University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Buch, and Experimental and Clinical Research Centre Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Utz
authors.affiliation: Metanomics Health GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fuhrmann
authors.affiliation: Metanomics Health GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rein
authors.affiliation: Working Group Cardiac MRI, Clinic for Cardiology and Nephrology, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Germany; University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Buch, and Experimental and Clinical Research Centre Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulz-Menger
authors.affiliation: Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medical School and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Luft
authors.affiliation: Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medical School and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boschmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: jordan.jens@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic / Q000097:blood*; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Body fat distribution; Insulin sensitivity; Intrahepatic fat; Obesity