A close relationship between plasma concentrations of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids and uric acid among healthy adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential differences in plasma branched-chain and aromatic amino acid (BCAAs and AAAs) concentrations according to the levels of uric acid (UA) and determine the trends in such differences among apparently healthy subjects. Methods: Data from a total of 2804 healthy subjects were included in the current analysis and were categorized into three groups based on the tertiles of plasma UA level. The group differences for BCAAs and AAAs between UA tertiles were explored by analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA). Results: There was a progressive increase in the concentrations of all BCAAs and AAAs from the lower to the upper tertiles. The group differences were significant for all amino acids investigated in this study (P<0.001) except for tryptophan. Overall, the differences were stronger in the higher quartile categories when compared with those for the corresponding lowest quartile category of individual BCAAs and AAAs. Conclusions: The current results suggest the potential existence of a close relationship of plasma levels of BCAAs and AAAs with UA, and warrant further research with elucidation of causal associations and interactions between them.

branched-chain

aromatic

amino acids

uric acid

relationship