Research paper
Effects of Branched-Chain Amino Acids on Skeletal Muscle, Glycemic Control, and Neuropsychological Performance in Elderly Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial
Study answer
What this study found
Neither BCAA nor soy protein improved skeletal muscle mass or HbA1c over 24 weeks, so BCAA was not superior to soy protein for the main efficacy outcomes. Both supplements increased knee extension strength, with a significant gain in the soy protein group and a trend toward improvement in the BCAA group. Depressive symptoms improved significantly in the BCAA group, although the between-group difference was not significant. LDL-C decreased in the soy protein group, and there were no significant changes in IGF-1, follistatin, or BDNF. The interventions were generally tolerated, with no major…
- Study & population
- Exploratory randomized controlled trial in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving outpatient care and participating in a structured exercise program.
- Intervention
- Oral branched-chain amino acids were given at 8 g/day for 24 weeks as DeliciOUS Amino Acids BCAA, providing 4 g leucine, 2 g valine, and 2 g isoleucine per dose, taken after exercise or after dinner if no exercise.
- Key limitation
- This was an exploratory study with a small sample and limited power for secondary outcomes and safety.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Although branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are known to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis and affect insulin signaling and kynurenine metabolism (the latter being a metabolite of tryptophan associated with depression and dementia), the effects…