Prado, Wagner Luiz do

Abstract Context Elevated concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are strong predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains uncertain, particularly in youth. Objective We investigated the role of BCAA and aromatic amino acids (AAA) in obesity, their relationships with novel biomarkers of CVD, and response to a physical activity-based lifestyle intervention (PAL-I) in a randomized controlled study in youth with normal weight (NW) and obesity (OB). Methods Age (14-18 years) and Tanner stage (≥IV) matched youth (OB, n = 15 and NW, n = 6) were studied; the 15 participants with OB underwent a 3-month randomized controlled PAL-I. Circulating amino acid profile, glucose, insulin, lipids, adiponectin, retinol binding protein-4, fibrinogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and 25-hydroxy vitamin-D, along with body composition, were measured at baseline and after PAL-I. Independent t tests, analysis of covariance, and mixed-effect models were used for analysis of the data. Results Compared with NW, the concentration of various amino acids, including BCAA and AAA, were altered in OB (P < 0.05). BCAA and AAA showed baseline correlations with body composition and novel biomarkers of CVD, particularly inflammatory factors (all P < 0.05). The PAL-I produced only negligible effects (P > 0.05) on BCAA and AAA. Glutamine, glycine, and aspartic acid decreased with PAL-I (all P < 0.05). Conclusion The novel finding of the BCAA–inflammation relationship, along with strong correlations with nontraditional biomarkers of CVD, may raise the prospect of BCAA as a biomarker of CVD and evoke a potential link between obesity, T2DM, and CVD.

This study compared the effects of self-selected exercise intensity (SEI) versus predetermined exercise intensity (PEI) on blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness in adolescents with obesity. A total of 37 adolescents, 14.7 (1.6) years old, body mass index ≥95th percentile were randomly allocated into SEI (n = 18; 12 boys) or PEI (n = 19; 13 boys). Both groups exercised for 35 minutes on a treadmill, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. The SEI could set the speed at the beginning of the sessions and make changes every 5 minutes. The PEI adolescents were trained at an intensity set at 60% to 70% of heart rate reserve. Brachial and central BP, pulse pressure, augmentation index, and carotid–femoral pulse wave were determined at baseline and after 12 weeks. Both groups reduced brachial systolic BP (SEI, Δ = −9 mm Hg; PEI, Δ = −4 mm Hg; P < .01), central systolic BP (SEI, Δ = −4 mm Hg; PEI, Δ = −4 mm Hg; P = .01), and central pulse pressure (SEI, Δ = −4 mm Hg; PEI, Δ = −3 mm Hg; P = .02) without differences between groups. No changes in the augmentation index and carotid–femoral pulse wave were observed in either group. The SEI induced similar changes in various cardiovascular outcomes compared with PEI in adolescents with obesity.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a low- versus high-intensity aerobic training on biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in adolescents with obesity. Methods: Sixty-two adolescents with obesity [age = 15 (14) y, body mass index = 34.87 (4.22) kg·m−2] were randomized to receive either a high-intensity training (HIT, n = 31) or a low-intensity training (LIT, n = 31) for 24 weeks. All participants also received nutritional, psychological, and clinical counseling. Leptin, total and subtype leukocyte counts, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were obtained at baseline and after 24 weeks. Results: HIT reduced neutrophils [from 4.4 (1.9) to 3.6 (1.3) µL−1 × 103; P = .01] and monocytes [from 7.2 (2.5) to 5.2 (1.8) µL−1 × 102; P < .01], but LIT increased neutrophils [from 4.5 (1.7) to 5.2 (3.3) µL−1 × 103; P = .01]. Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased in LIT [from 13.3 (7.5) to 17.7 (10.8) pg·mL−1; P = .01], it decreased in HIT [from 12.4 (7.5) to 11.3 (6.2) pg·mL−1; P = .01]. No changes in leukocyte counts, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and homeostasis assessment model for insulin resistance were observed. Conclusions: Both HIT and LIT improved the inflammatory profile. The study, however, indicated that the number of biomarkers and the magnitude of changes were higher in the HIT compared with LIT.