Plasma BCAA concentrations during exercise of varied intensities in young healthy men—the impact of endurance training

Abstract

Background Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) i.e., leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val) are important amino acids, which metabolism play a role in maintaining system energy homeostasis at rest and during exercise. As recently shown lowering of circulating BCAA level improves insulin sensitivity and cardiac metabolic health. However, little is known concerning the impact of a single bout of incremental exercise and physical training on the changes in blood BCAA. The present study aimed to determine the impact of a gradually increasing exercise intensity—up to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) on the changes of the plasma BCAA [∑BCAA]pl, before and after 5-weeks of moderate-intensity endurance training (ET). Methods Ten healthy young, untrained men performed an incremental cycling exercise test up to exhaustion to reach VO2max, before and after ET. Results We have found that exercise of low-to-moderate intensity (up to ∼50% of VO2max lasting about 12 min) had no significant effect on the [∑BCAA]pl, however the exercise of higher intensity (above 70% of VO2max lasting about 10 min) resulted in a pronounced decrease (p < 0.05) in [∑BCAA]pl. The lowering of plasma BCAA when performing exercise of higher intensity was preceded by a significant increase in plasma lactate concentration, showing that a significant attenuation of BCAA during incremental exercise coincides with exercise-induced acceleration of glycogen utilization. In addition, endurance training, which significantly increased power generating capabilities at VO2max (p = 0.004) had no significant impact on the changes of [∑BCAA]pl during this incremental exercise. Conclusion We have concluded that an exercise of moderate intensity of relatively short duration generally has no effect on the [∑BCAA]pl in young, healthy men, whereas significant decrease in [∑BCAA]pl occurs when performing exercise in heavy-intensity domain. The impact of exercise intensity on the plasma BCAA concentration seems to be especially important for patients with cardiometabolic risk undertaken cardiac rehabilitation or recreational activity.

Exploring the association of physical activity with the plasma and urine metabolome in adolescents and young adults

“…Moreover, circulating kynurenine, a tryptophan catabolite is mechanistically influenced by physical activity, with studies reporting exercise-induced kynurenine pathway modulations in both animal and human populations [ 59 ]. Of note, a wide variety of studies have reported significant associations between physical activity and alterations in the levels of plasma metabolites related to BCAA metabolism [ 20 , 21 , 28 , 29 , 60 – 62 ].…”

“…But there are far fewer metabolomics-based studies focused on physical activity in adolescents and young adults. Two small intervention studies examined short-term exercise-induced physiologic effects on the metabolome of young adults [ 27 , 28 ] while one study explored longitudinal associations of physical activity and serum circulating amino acids concentration in peripubertal girls [ 29 ]. In the present study, we explore potential associations of habitual leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with the plasma and urine metabolome in adolescents and young adults.…”

Exercise‐regulated white adipocyte differentitation: An insight into its role and mechanism

“…The metabolites produced in the body due to exercise may follow the blood transport and act on the adipose tissue, which is our speculation and needs further studies to confirm it. High‐intensity cycling endurance training significantly increased BCAAs metabolism and decreased plasma BCAAs levels compared to the non‐exercised group (Gawedzka et al, 2020). In another study, five regularly trained men exercising for 2 h on power bikes showed a significant increase in plasma BCAAs levels only after long and low intense exercise (Wagenmakers et al, 1989).…”

Coordinated Metabolic Responses Facilitate Cardiac Growth in Pregnancy and Exercise

“…In fact, a recent study indicates that myocardial accumulation of BCAAs is required for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and is mediated in part by the coordination of glucose and BCAA utilization in the heart through Kruppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) to promote hypertrophic signaling [ 67 •]. While circulating levels of BCAAs are dependent on exercise intensity [ 68 , 69 ], myocardial abundance of BCAAs have been shown to increase following a bout of exercise but return to normal levels within 24 h [ 33 •]. Interestingly, provision of a diet high in BCAAs for just 4 h at the end of the active phase leads to significant cardiac growth and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes in mice [ 70 •], which indicates that increases in cardiac BCAA abundance could be an important regulator of cardiac growth.…”