Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes
Abstract Background This study aimed to examine the association between branched-chain amino acids/branched-chain α-keto acids (BCAAs/BCKAs) and adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 506 patients with T2DM were included in t...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01860-z |
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| author | Jie Gao Mai Re YanMu Rouzi Haofan Yang Wenhao Zheng Liang Wang Tao Lei Jun Lu |
| author_facet | Jie Gao Mai Re YanMu Rouzi Haofan Yang Wenhao Zheng Liang Wang Tao Lei Jun Lu |
| author_sort | Jie Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study aimed to examine the association between branched-chain amino acids/branched-chain α-keto acids (BCAAs/BCKAs) and adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 506 patients with T2DM were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were categorized into two groups based on Adipo-IR levels (non-Adipo-IR: Adipo-IR<7.68; Adipo-IR: Adipo-IR ≥ 7.68). Serum BCAA/BCKA concentrations were measured using ELISA kits. Correlations between BCAAs/BCKAs and Adipo-IR or HOMA-IR were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the associations of BCKAs with both indices of insulin resistance. Results Median serum BCKA levels were significantly higher in the Adipo-IR group than in the non-Adipo-IR (128.27 vs. 121.16, p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in median serum BCAA levels between the two groups (2.54 vs. 2.52, p = 0.714). BCKAs were positively correlated with both Adipo-IR and HOMA-IR (both p < 0.01), and the association with Adipo-IR was stronger. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that BCKAs were associated with Adipo-IR regardless of adjustment for influencing factors, with increasing odds ratios across BCKAs quartiles (p for trend < 0.01). However, after adjusting for covariates, the association between BCKAs and HOMA-IR was no longer significant. Conclusions Serum BCKA levels were elevated in T2DM patients with Adipo-IR and were more strongly correlated with Adipo-IR than HOMA-IR. BCKAs may serve as sensitive biomarkers for Adipo-IR. Consequently, we would promote their clinical usage in the early screening of individuals with obesity, insulin resistance and a high risk of T2DM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe6cbc90d15b4ad282e27d4ca1f30a83 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1758-5996 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe6cbc90d15b4ad282e27d4ca1f30a832025-08-20T04:02:56ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962025-08-011711810.1186/s13098-025-01860-zCirculating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetesJie Gao0Mai Re YanMu Rouzi1Haofan Yang2Wenhao Zheng3Liang Wang4Tao Lei5Jun Lu6Department of Endocrinology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Endocrinology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor UniversityDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Professions, Marshall Global Health Institute, Marshall UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineDepartment of Endocrinology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract Background This study aimed to examine the association between branched-chain amino acids/branched-chain α-keto acids (BCAAs/BCKAs) and adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 506 patients with T2DM were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were categorized into two groups based on Adipo-IR levels (non-Adipo-IR: Adipo-IR<7.68; Adipo-IR: Adipo-IR ≥ 7.68). Serum BCAA/BCKA concentrations were measured using ELISA kits. Correlations between BCAAs/BCKAs and Adipo-IR or HOMA-IR were evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the associations of BCKAs with both indices of insulin resistance. Results Median serum BCKA levels were significantly higher in the Adipo-IR group than in the non-Adipo-IR (128.27 vs. 121.16, p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in median serum BCAA levels between the two groups (2.54 vs. 2.52, p = 0.714). BCKAs were positively correlated with both Adipo-IR and HOMA-IR (both p < 0.01), and the association with Adipo-IR was stronger. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that BCKAs were associated with Adipo-IR regardless of adjustment for influencing factors, with increasing odds ratios across BCKAs quartiles (p for trend < 0.01). However, after adjusting for covariates, the association between BCKAs and HOMA-IR was no longer significant. Conclusions Serum BCKA levels were elevated in T2DM patients with Adipo-IR and were more strongly correlated with Adipo-IR than HOMA-IR. BCKAs may serve as sensitive biomarkers for Adipo-IR. Consequently, we would promote their clinical usage in the early screening of individuals with obesity, insulin resistance and a high risk of T2DM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01860-zAdipose tissueInsulin resistanceBranched-chain amino acidType 2 diabetes mellitus |
| spellingShingle | Jie Gao Mai Re YanMu Rouzi Haofan Yang Wenhao Zheng Liang Wang Tao Lei Jun Lu Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome Adipose tissue Insulin resistance Branched-chain amino acid Type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| title | Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| title_full | Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| title_fullStr | Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| title_short | Circulating BCKAs are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| title_sort | circulating bckas are closely associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes |
| topic | Adipose tissue Insulin resistance Branched-chain amino acid Type 2 diabetes mellitus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01860-z |
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