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Research Project: Impact of Maternal Influence and Early Dietary Factors on Child Growth, Development, and Metabolic Health

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Title: Divergent changes in plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations and insulin resistance throughout gestation

Author
item ALLMAN, B.R. - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item ANDRES, A. - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item FUENTES, E.C.D. - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BORSHEIM, E. - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/31/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plasma branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations have been correlated with insulin resistance (1, 2), but this relationship throughout gestation (period in which insulin resistance typically increases (3)) is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine associations between changes in BCAA concentrations and insulin resistance throughout gestation. Plasma samples from overnight-fasted participants (Glowing study; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01131117) were used to measure BCAA (EZ:faast, Torrance, CA), and glucose and insulin (both on Randox Daytona Clinical Analyzer, Crumlin, UK) concentrations at early (EP: ~10 weeks) and late (LP: ~30 weeks) pregnancy (n=53). The homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) was calculated. The best-fit model was created using stepwise multiple linear regression analyses where change in HOMA2-IR was the dependent variable and change in BCAA plasma concentrations, BMI at enrollment, and GWG were the independent variables. LEU and ISO positively correlated with HOMA2-IR at both time points, but these relationships at EP disappeared or weakened when adjusting for body fat percentage. Delta LEU was negatively associated with delta HOMA2-IR (ß=-0.037, p=0.006, Figure 1). MCR was lower in NEG (group with >10% decrease in LEULP-EP) compared to POS (group with <10% decrease in LEULP-EP), whereas there was no difference in HOMA2-IR between NEG and POS. In this pregnancy cohort, BCAA decreased from early to late pregnancy confirming other reports (4, 5) and was related to insulin resistance measured cross-sectionally confirming other reports (6), whereas the mean insulin resistance did not change in our data. Our study was the first to report the divergent relationship between change in BCAA concentration and change in insulin resistance throughout pregnancy. These data do not support a direct connection between plasma BCAA concentrations and insulin resistance in pregnant women.