Dietary branched-chain amino acids intake exhibited a different relationship with type 2 diabetes and obesity risk: a meta-analysis

To assess whether oral branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation exerts influence on circulating BCAA and the significance of dietary BCAA in type 2 diabetes and obesity risk. We searched PUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane library through June 2018 to retrieve and screen published reports for inclusion in the meta-analysis after methodological assessment. Heterogeneity of studies was evaluated using I2 statistics, while sensitivity analysis and funnel plot were used to evaluate the potential effect of individual studies on the overall estimates and publication bias, respectively, using RevMan 5.3. Eight articles on randomized clinical trial of oral BCAA supplementation, and seven articles on dietary BCAA intake and type 2 diabetes/obesity risks were eligible for inclusion in our meta-analyses. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) of circulating leucine was 39.65 (3.54, 75.76) µmol/L, P = 0.03 post-BCAA supplementation. Also, OR and 95% CI for higher total BCAA intake and metabolic disorder risks were, 1.32 (1.14, 1.53), P = 0.0003—type 2 diabetes and 0.62 (0.47, 0.82), P = 0.0008—obesity. Oral BCAA supplementation exerts modest influence on circulating leucine profile and higher total BCAA intake is positively and contra-positively associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity risk, respectively.