Of Older Mice and Men: Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Body Composition

Rosilene  V. Ribeiro; Samantha  M. Solon-Biet; Tamara Pulpitel; Alistair  M. Senior; Victoria  C. Cogger; Ximonie Clark; John O’Sullivan; Yen  Chin Koay; Vasant Hirani; Fiona  M. Blyth; Markus  J. Seibel; Louise  M. Waite; Vasi Naganathan; Robert  G. Cumming; David  J. Handelsman; Stephen  J. Simpson; David  G Le Couteur

doi:10.3390/nu11081882

Nutrients (Aug 2019)

Of Older Mice and Men: Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Body Composition

Rosilene V. Ribeiro,
Samantha M. Solon-Biet,
Tamara Pulpitel,
Alistair M. Senior,
Victoria C. Cogger,
Ximonie Clark,
John O’Sullivan,
Yen Chin Koay,
Vasant Hirani,
Fiona M. Blyth,
Markus J. Seibel,
Louise M. Waite,
Vasi Naganathan,
Robert G. Cumming,
David J. Handelsman,
Stephen J. Simpson,
David G Le Couteur

Affiliations

Rosilene V. Ribeiro: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Samantha M. Solon-Biet: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Tamara Pulpitel: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Alistair M. Senior: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Victoria C. Cogger: Charles Perkins Centre, Camperdown, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Ximonie Clark: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
John O’Sullivan: Charles Perkins Centre, Camperdown, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Yen Chin Koay: Charles Perkins Centre, Camperdown, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Vasant Hirani: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Fiona M. Blyth: Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Sydney, Concord 2139, Australia
Markus J. Seibel: Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Louise M. Waite: ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), Kensington 2033, Australia
Vasi Naganathan: Concord Clinical School, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Sydney, Concord 2139, Australia
Robert G. Cumming: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
David J. Handelsman: ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord 2139, Australia
Stephen J. Simpson: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
David G Le Couteur: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11081882
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 8
p. 1882

Abstract

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Protein and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) intake are associated with changes in circulating BCAAs and influence metabolic health in humans and rodents. However, the relationship between BCAAs and body composition in both species is unclear, with many studies questioning the translatability of preclinical findings to humans. Here, we assessed and directly compared the relationship between circulating BCAAs, body composition, and intake in older mice and men. Body weight and body fat were positively associated with circulating BCAA levels in both mouse and human, which remained significant after adjustments for age, physical activity, number of morbidities, smoking status, and source of income in the human cohort. Macronutrient intakes were similarly associated with circulating BCAA levels; however, the relationship between protein intake and BCAAs were more pronounced in the mice. These findings indicate that the relationship between circulating BCAAs, body composition, and intakes are comparable in both species, suggesting that the mouse is an effective model for examining the effects of BCAAs on body composition in older humans.

Published in Nutrients

ISSN: 2072-6643 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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