Branched Chain Amino Acids: Isoleucine Regulates Glucose Branched chain amino acids, like isoleucine, perform crucial functions in our bodies. They regulate the metabolism of all major nutrients. But do branched chain amino acids regulate the metabolism of glucose? A study from Japan investigated the possibility of branched chain amino acids—especially isoleucine—being part of a new therapeutic strategy of amino acid medicine. The branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are leucine, isoleucine and valine. BCAAs are among the nine essential amino acids in our bodies. They are known as “essential” because our bodies do not synthesize them, so we must get them from our diet. The BCAAs, like isoleucine, are the most abundant of the essential amino acids. And BCAAs do more than simply supply us with nutrition. They regulate our metabolism of all three major nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. BCAAs also regulate cellular functions, such as protein synthesis. Amino acids stimulate the release of insulin. But what is their role in glucose (sugar)metabolism? Regulating the metabolism of glucose is important for controlling diseases like diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar levels. Obesity is one of the main risk factors of diabetes, and as the obesity epidemic expands, there is a pressing need to find better treatments for diabetes. Isoleucine was administered to rats. Glucose uptake was significantly increased, as the isoleucine stimulated glucose uptake in muscles. The amino acid speeded up the rats’ breakdown of glucose for energy production. The rats became hypoglycemic—they had very low blood sugar. This shows that isoleucine improves insulin sensitivity, and decreases glucose production in the liver. Source Amino acid information
Posted on: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 06:21:14 +0000
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