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Individual Branched-Chain Amino Acid Restriction Alters Body Composition without Affecting Hemoglobin in Rats Fed a
Layal S Jaafar1, Nathalie S Sous1, Hashem H Shehadi2
1Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Background:
Emerging evidence suggests that each branched-chain amino acid (BCAA; Leu, Val, and Ile) exert distinct physiological effects. Moreover, Leu and Val, but not Ile, are structural components of hemoglobin. However, the effects of individual BCAA restriction on body composition and hematological parameters remain unclear.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individual dietary BCAA restrictions on body composition and hematological parameters in growing rats fed normal-protein (NP) or low-protein (LP) diets.
Methods:
Two experiments were conducted on 4-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, rats were fed NP diets (n = 32, 8/group), and in Experiment 2, rats were fed LP diets (n = 40, 8/group). In both experiments, rats were fed isocaloric purified ingredient diets containing a 50% reduction in individual BCAA levels for 6 to 7 wk. Body weight, body composition, food intake, and hematological parameters were assessed. Data were analyzed using one-way and two-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc tests.
Results:
Lean body mass (LBM) gain was preserved in Leu-restricted rats under both NP (156 ± 21 g compared with control group: 168 ± 25 g) and LP diets (174 ± 24 g compared with control group: 170 ± 29 g) (P > 0.05). In contrast, rats fed the Ile-restricted NP diet showed ∼23% lower LBM gain, and the effects were more pronounced under the LP diet, including lower body fat percentage (∼20% compared with ∼30% in controls, P > 0.05). Conversely, Val restriction in rats fed the LP diet reduced LBM gain by ∼100 g compared with control (P < 0.05), while fat gain remained relatively preserved (94 ± 40 g compared with 120 ± 45 g in the control group, P > 0.05). Leu and Val restriction, individually or combined, did not affect hemoglobin levels under either dietary condition (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Individual dietary BCAA restrictions differentially affect body composition and energy balance in growing rats fed LP diet, without altering hemoglobin levels.
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