Effect of branched‑chain amino acid supplementation on insulin resistance and quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients

Ocaña‑Mondragón,Alicia; Mata‑Marín,José  Antonio; Uriarte‑López,Mario; Bekker‑Méndez,Carolina; Alcalá‑Martínez,Enrique; Ribas‑Aparicio,Rosa  María; Uribe‑Noguéz,Luis   Antonio; Rodríguez‑Galindo,Dulce  María; Martínez‑Rodríguez,María  de La Luz

doi:10.3892/br.2017.1012

Effect of branched‑chain amino acid supplementation on insulin resistance and quality of life in chronic hepatitis C patients

Authors:
- Alicia Ocaña‑Mondragón
- José Antonio Mata‑Marín
- Mario Uriarte‑López
- Carolina Bekker‑Méndez
- Enrique Alcalá‑Martínez
- Rosa María Ribas‑Aparicio
- Luis Antonio Uribe‑Noguéz
- Dulce María Rodríguez‑Galindo
- María de La Luz Martínez‑Rodríguez
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Affiliations: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Infectología e Inmunología, Hospital de Infectología, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 02990, Mexico, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Hospital de Infectología, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 02990, Mexico, Departamento de Investigación y Desarrollo, AYDSA Aminas y Derivados S.A. de C.V., Mexico City 06400, Mexico, Departamento de Microbiología, Programa en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico, Departamento de Psicología Clínica, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 02990, Mexico
Published online on: November 3, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2017.1012
Pages: 85-90

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Abstract

The incidence rate of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is high. Recently, branched‑chain amino acids (BCAA) have been shown to attenuate IR in CHC patients; however, their effect on patient quality of life remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the current prospective study was to determine the effects of BCAA supplement on IR and health‑related quality of life (HR‑QoL) in patients with CHC. In the study, 20 non‑diabetic patients with CHC, who were non‑responders to peginterferon‑α and ribavirin, were recruited. Patients took a BCAA supplement once a day (30 g, after a minimum 10‑h overnight fast) for 3 months. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol were measured at 0 and 3 months. Additionally, IR was measured using the Homeostasis Model Assessment‑IR, HR‑QoL was assessed using the 36‑item Short Form Health Survey and viral load was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using Taqman probes. The Wilcoxon signed‑rank test was used to determine statistical significance. The results indicated that 70% of the subjects were positive for IR, which decreased to 50% by the end of the study; furthermore, 85% of the subjects demonstrated some level of improvement. Overall, the BCAA treatment significantly decreased IR (P=0.006) and augmented serum albumin concentration (P=0.008) compared with basal values. Additionally, by the end of the treatment, viral load and triglycerides levels had decreased, though these results were not significant (P=0.084 and P=0.080, respectively). BCAA treatment also improved HR‑QoL regarding role limitations due to physical health problems (P=0.017), role limitations due to emotional problems (P=0.026) and social function (P=0.008). In conclusion, BCAA supplementation reduced IR and improved HR‑QoL in patients with CHC. These findings support the application of IR therapy as a possible therapeutic strategy for hepatitis C infection.

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