Effect of the BCAT2 polymorphism (rs11548193) on plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations after dietary intervention in subjects with obesity and insulin resistance

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are considered markers of insulin resistance (IR) in subjects with obesity. In this study, we evaluated whether the presence of the SNP of the branched-chain aminotransferase 2 (BCAT2) gene can modify the effect of a dietary intervention (DI) on the plasma concentration of BCAA in subjects with obesity and IR. A prospective cohort study of adult subjects with obesity, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥ 2·5) no diagnosed chronic disease, underwent a DI with an energy restriction of 3140 kJ/d and nutritional education for 1 month. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, blood pressure, resting energy expenditure, oral glucose tolerance test results, serum biochemical parameters and the plasma amino acid profile were evaluated before and after the DI. SNP were assessed by the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. A total of eighty-two subjects were included, and fifteen subjects with a BCAT2 SNP had a greater reduction in leucine, isoleucine, valine and the sum of BCAA. Those subjects also had a greater reduction in skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, total body water, blood pressure, muscle strength and biochemical parameters after 1 month of the DI and adjusting for age and sex. This study demonstrated that the presence of the BCAT2 SNP promotes a greater reduction in plasma BCAA concentration after adjusting for age and sex, in subjects with obesity and IR after a 1-month energy-restricted DI.