Relationship of branched-chain alpha-keto-acids and lipids in sera of hypertriglyceridemic subjects

According to the present study, in hyperlipidemias where triglyceride values in serum are raised, the triglyceride values are associated with increased amounts of branched-chain alpha-keto-acids (BCKA) in the serum. In particular, the concentration of alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (KICA), which in the control sera was 34.4 mumol/l, was in type IIB hyperlipidemia 40.4% and in type IV 49.4% higher than in controls with normal serum lipid values. In type IV hyperlipidemia, values for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid (KIVA) and alpha-keto-beta-methyl-n-valeric acid (KMVA) were also high when compared to the corresponding mean values of the controls, 7.1 and 18.8 mumol/l. The respective differences were 57.7 and 44.1 per cent. In type IIB hyperlipidemia, KIVA was significantly and KMVA insignificantly increased compared to the control group. In type IIA hyperlipidemia with normal triglyceride values, none of the three BCKA differed significantly from the controls. These results also indicate that the increased amounts of individual BCKA somehow depend on the concentration of triglycerides in serum, while no relationship was found between BCKA values and cholesterol concentration.