Comparative effects of the branched-chain amino acids, leucine, isoleucine and valine, on gastric emptying, plasma glucose, c-peptide and glucagon in healthy men
Date
2021
Authors
Elovaris, R.A.
Bitarafan, V.
Agah, S.
Ullrich, S.S.
Lange, K.
Horowitz, M.
Feinle-Bisset, C.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Nutrients, 2021; 13(5):1-11
Statement of Responsibility
Rachel A. Elovaris, Vida Bitarafan, Shahram Agah, Sina S. Ullrich, Kylie Lange, Michael Horowitz and Christine Feinle-Bisset
Conference Name
Abstract
(1) Background: Whey protein lowers postprandial blood glucose in health and type 2 diabetes, by stimulating insulin and incretin hormone secretion and slowing gastric emptying. The branched-chain amino acids, leucine, isoleucine and valine, abundant in whey, may mediate the glucoregulatory effects of whey. We investigated the comparative effects of intragastric administration of leucine, isoleucine and valine on the plasma glucose, C-peptide and glucagon responses to and gastric emptying of a mixed-nutrient drink in healthy men. (2) Methods: 15 healthy men (27 ± 3 y) received, on four separate occasions, in double-blind, randomised fashion, either 10 g of leucine, 10 g of isoleucine, 10 g of valine or control, intragastrically, 30 min before a mixed-nutrient drink. Plasma glucose, C-peptide and glucagon concentrations were measured before, and for 2 h following, the drink. Gastric emptying of the drink was quantified using 13C-acetate breath-testing. (3) Results: Amino acids alone did not affect plasma glucose or C-peptide, while isoleucine and valine, but not leucine, stimulated glucagon (p < 0.05), compared with control. After the drink, isoleucine and leucine reduced peak plasma glucose compared with both control and valine (all p < 0.05). Neither amino acid affected early (t = 0–30 min) postprandial C-peptide or glucagon. While there was no effect on overall gastric emptying, plasma glucose at t = 30 min correlated with early gastric emptying (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusion: In healthy individuals, leucine and isoleucine lower postprandial blood glucose, at least in part by slowing gastric emptying, while valine does not appear to have an effect, possibly due to glucagon stimulation.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).