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CompletedNCT02697305Updated Mar 8, 2016

Incretin Effects of Branched Chain Amino Acids

An interventional study of IV BCAA and ORAL BCAA in Glucose Metabolism Disorders, sponsored by Charles University, Czech Republic. Completed at 1 site in Czech Republic. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2016-03-08.

Sponsored by Charles University, Czech Republic · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
18
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 30 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are known to exert insulinogenic effect. Whether this effect is mediated by incretins (GLP-1, GIP) is not known. The aim of the study was to show incretin effect of BCAA, i.e. whether the oral administration of BCAA elicits higher insulin and incretin response when compared with IV route of the same dose of BCAA. Eighteen healthy, male subjects participated in three tests: IV application of BCAA solution (30.7±1.1 g of BCAA, IV BCAA) second was oral ingestion of BCAA capsules in the same dose (ORAL BCAA) and third experiment was oral placebo (PLACEBO). Glucose, insulin, GLP-1, GIP, valine, leucine and isoleucine levels were measured at time interval for up to 4 h.

Read the detailed description

Study protocols: Three tests were conducted on a different occasion (at least 7 days in between). First test (IV BCAA test) comprised of IV application of BCAA solution (Nutramin VLI 3%, Fresenius Kabi, KGaA, Germany; Leucine 43%, Isoleucine 24%, Valine 33%) in total dose of 0,4 g/kg in a 2 h infusion (mean solution volume 1023±34.6mL, mean total dose of BCAA 30.7±1.1g) to respect maximum recommended infusion rate. Second test (ORAL BCAA test) comprised of at once oral ingestion of BCAA capsules (BCAA capsules, Reflex Nutrition, UK, Brighton; Leucine 50%, Isoleucine 25%, Valine 25%) in a single dose of 0.4g/kg (mean total dose of BCAA 30.7±1.1 g) administered over 30s, washed down with 500mL of tap water. Third test (ORAL PLACEBO test) comprised of at once oral ingestion of placebo capsules (methylcellulose, University hospital institution pharmacy prepared) in a single dose of 0.4 g/kg administered over 30 s, washed down with 500 mL of tap water. The content of placebo capsules was weighted and packed identically with BCAA capsules. Nor participants nor the staff administering capsules and carrying out the protocol did not know about capsules content so that randomized double-blinded settings could have been maintained.

Blood analysis: Basal peripheral venous blood was drawn from each subject after 12 h of fasting (-15 min) and then at time 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 min throughout the intervention. Plasma was immediately separated and all samples were frozen at -80 °C until analysis were performed. For GLP-1 and GIP analysis BD P800 Blood Collection System was used with coat developed to preserve metabolic peptides in blood (cocktail of proteases, esterase and DPP-IV inhibitors, anticoagulant 3,6 mg di-potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (K2EDTA), Becton, Dickinson and Co., New Jersey, USA).

Parameters of glucose homeostasis were assessed: plasma glucose using hexokinase reaction (Konelab Glucose analyzer, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Oy., Finland) and serum insulin using solid phase competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (Immulite 2000, Siemens A.G., Germany).

Commercially available ELISA kits were used for GLP-1 and GIP analysis: for GLP-1 Immuno-Biological Laboratories (Immuno-Biological Laboratories, Gunma, Japan) and for GIP Millipore (EMD Millipore Corporation, Bilerica, MA, USA).

Serum levels of BCAAs were determined by method of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with contactless conductivity detection, which has been already described in details [18]. Shortly: CE measurements were carried out using HP3DCE system (Agilent Technologies, Waldbronn, Germany) equipped with a built-in contactless conductivity detector. Separation took place in a fused-silica capillary (31.4 cm in total length, 14.7 cm to detector, 25 μm inside diameter, 363 μm outside diameter, Composite Metal Services, UK) at the controlled temperature of 25 °C. The inner surface of the capillary is covered using INST coating solution (Biotaq, U.S.A.) to prevent electro-osmotic flow before its first use [19]. The CE separation is performed in an optimized background electrolyte with composition 3.2 mol/l acetic acid in 20% v/v methanol, pH 2.0. The achieved separation time was 125 s at electric field intensity of 0.96 kV/cm and simultaneous application of a hydrodynamic pressure of 50 mbar. The separation efficiency in blood serum equaled 461,000 plates/m for valine and isoleucine, and 455,000 plates/m for leucine; the detection limits are equal to 0.4 µM for all three amino acids. The relative standard deviation values for repeatability of the migration time equaled 0.1% for measurements during a single day and 0.3% for measurements on different days; the relative standard deviation values for repeatability of the peak areas equaled 2.3 - 2.6% for measurements during a single day and 2.7 - 4.6% for measurements on different days. Blood samples were collected in test tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). The obtained serum samples were stored in a freezer at -20 °C until the analysis. Prior to the analysis, the unfrozen serum samples were deproteinized by mixing 250 µl of serum with 750 µL of acetonitrile. Deproteinization was performed in an Eppendorf tube after shaking for 30s. Then the serum samples were centrifuged at an acceleration of 4 g for 45 s; 800 µL of the obtained supernatant were taken for CE analysis.

Statistical analysis: Data are presented in text, tables and figures as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM) and values of p\<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Secretion responses for insulin, GIP, GLP-1, valine, leucine and isoleucine were calculated for each subject as incremental areas under the curve (iAUC). iAUCs calculation allow for different individual baseline values. iAUCs were calculated using the trapezoid model, from 0-240 min for glucose, insulin and BCAA and 0-120 for GLP-1 and GIP. All individual values below the baseline were excluded and each subject in respective study was their own reference. Secretion responses for glucose were calculated as decremental AUC (dAUC) as the response is predominantly negative. All individual values above the baseline were excluded in the case. Data for statistical comparison for iAUC and individual values were tested for normality and for normally distributed data, samples were compared using general linear model ANOVA with Bonferroni's multiple comparison to test the statistical significance of differences between groups. Repeated measures ANOVA test was used to assess time effect for every respective treatment. Mixed model ANOVA was used to assess treatment and time vs treatment effect. Differences between groups were identified using Bonferroni's multiple comparisons tests. GraphPad Prism, release 5.03 (GraphPad software, San Diego) was used to perform all statistical procedures.

02

Conditions studied

  • Glucose Metabolism Disorders

Keywords

  • Insulin response
  • Incretin effect
  • GLP-1
  • GIP
  • Valine
  • Leucine
  • Isoleucine
  • Branched chain amino acids
03

In context

Metabolic Diseases

997 studies on the registry are indexed under Metabolic Diseases; 234 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 18 is below the median of 48 across 670 interventional studies indexed under Metabolic Diseases.

Browse Metabolic Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Charles University, Czech Republic is the lead sponsor of 220 studies on the registry; 76 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 30 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • healthy volunteers

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • age under 18 years, obesity, any chronic disease related to energy metabolism (particularly diabetes, thyreopathy, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis etc.), any chronic medication, smoking and regular alcohol consumption
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
18 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    IV BCAA test

    IV application of BCAA solution

    Dietary Supplement: IV BCAA

  • Experimental
    ORAL BCAA test

    At once oral ingestion of BCAA capsules

    Dietary Supplement: ORAL BCAA

  • Placebo comparator
    ORAL PLACEBO test

    At once oral ingestion of placebo capsules

    Other: ORAL Placebo

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementIV BCAA

    in total dose of 0,4 g/kg in a 2 h intravenous infusion

    Also known as: Nutramin VLI 3%, Fresenius Kabi, KGaA, Germany

  • Dietary supplementORAL BCAA

    single dose of 0.4g/kg administered over 30s washed down with 500mL of tap water

    Also known as: BCAA capsules, Reflex Nutrition, UK, Brighton

  • OtherORAL Placebo

    single dose of 0.4 g/kg administered over 30 s washed down with 500mL of tap water

    Also known as: methylcellulose, University Hospital Inst. Pharmacy prepared

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of GLP-1 and GIP

    At time 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 min serum levels of GLP-1 and GIP in peripheral blood samples were detected using commercially available ELISA kits

    Time frame: 0-120 min after administration

Secondary outcomes

  1. Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of BCAA

    at time 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 min serum levels of BCAAs in peripheral blood samples were determined by method of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with contactless conductivity detection

    Time frame: 0-240 min after administration

  2. Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of insulin

    at time 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 min serum levels of insulin in peripheral blood samples using solid phase competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay were detected

    Time frame: 0-240 min after administration

  3. Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of glucose

    at time 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 min serum levels of glucose in peripheral blood samples using using hexokinase reaction were detected

    Time frame: 0-240 min after administration

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Centre for Research on Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague
    Prague 10, 100 34, Czech Republic
08

References and documents

Publications

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  • Floyd JC Jr, Fajans SS, Conn JW, Knopf RF, Rull J. Stimulation of insulin secretion by amino acids. J Clin Invest. 1966 Sep;45(9):1487-502. doi: 10.1172/JCI105456. No abstract available. PubMed 5919350 ↗
  • Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ. Amino acid ingestion and glucose metabolism--a review. IUBMB Life. 2010 Sep;62(9):660-8. doi: 10.1002/iub.375. PubMed 20882645 ↗
  • Nilsson M, Stenberg M, Frid AH, Holst JJ, Bjorck IM. Glycemia and insulinemia in healthy subjects after lactose-equivalent meals of milk and other food proteins: the role of plasma amino acids and incretins. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Nov;80(5):1246-53. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/80.5.1246. PubMed 15531672 ↗
  • Frid AH, Nilsson M, Holst JJ, Bjorck IM. Effect of whey on blood glucose and insulin responses to composite breakfast and lunch meals in type 2 diabetic subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jul;82(1):69-75. doi: 10.1093/ajcn.82.1.69. PubMed 16002802 ↗
  • Pal S, Ellis V. The acute effects of four protein meals on insulin, glucose, appetite and energy intake in lean men. Br J Nutr. 2010 Oct;104(8):1241-8. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510001911. Epub 2010 May 11. PubMed 20456814 ↗
  • Layman DK. The role of leucine in weight loss diets and glucose homeostasis. J Nutr. 2003 Jan;133(1):261S-267S. doi: 10.1093/jn/133.1.261S. PubMed 12514305 ↗
  • Calbet JA, MacLean DA. Plasma glucagon and insulin responses depend on the rate of appearance of amino acids after ingestion of different protein solutions in humans. J Nutr. 2002 Aug;132(8):2174-82. doi: 10.1093/jn/132.8.2174. PubMed 12163658 ↗
  • Nilsson M, Holst JJ, Bjorck IM. Metabolic effects of amino acid mixtures and whey protein in healthy subjects: studies using glucose-equivalent drinks. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Apr;85(4):996-1004. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.4.996. PubMed 17413098 ↗
  • Wahren J, Felig P, Hagenfeldt L. Effect of protein ingestion on splanchnic and leg metabolism in normal man and in patients with diabetes mellitus. J Clin Invest. 1976 Apr;57(4):987-99. doi: 10.1172/JCI108375. PubMed 947963 ↗
  • Yang J, Chi Y, Burkhardt BR, Guan Y, Wolf BA. Leucine metabolism in regulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Nutr Rev. 2010 May;68(5):270-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00282.x. PubMed 20500788 ↗
  • Raptis S, Dollinger HC, Schroder KE, Schleyer M, Rothenbuchner G, Pfeiffer EF. Differences in insulin, growth hormone and pancreatic enzyme secretion after intravenous and intraduodenal administration of mixed amino acids in man. N Engl J Med. 1973 Jun 7;288(23):1199-202. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197306072882302. No abstract available. PubMed 4700552 ↗
  • ELRICK H, STIMMLER L, HLAD CJ Jr, ARAI Y. PLASMA INSULIN RESPONSE TO ORAL AND INTRAVENOUS GLUCOSE ADMINISTRATION. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1964 Oct;24:1076-82. doi: 10.1210/jcem-24-10-1076. No abstract available. PubMed 14228531 ↗
  • Nauck MA, Homberger E, Siegel EG, Allen RC, Eaton RP, Ebert R, Creutzfeldt W. Incretin effects of increasing glucose loads in man calculated from venous insulin and C-peptide responses. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986 Aug;63(2):492-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem-63-2-492. PubMed 3522621 ↗
  • Gunnerud U, Holst JJ, Ostman E, Bjorck I. The glycemic, insulinemic and plasma amino acid responses to equi-carbohydrate milk meals, a pilot- study of bovine and human milk. Nutr J. 2012 Oct 12;11:83. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-83. PubMed 23057765 ↗
  • Salehi A, Gunnerud U, Muhammed SJ, Ostman E, Holst JJ, Bjorck I, Rorsman P. The insulinogenic effect of whey protein is partially mediated by a direct effect of amino acids and GIP on beta-cells. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012 May 30;9(1):48. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-9-48. PubMed 22647249 ↗
  • Chen Q, Reimer RA. Dairy protein and leucine alter GLP-1 release and mRNA of genes involved in intestinal lipid metabolism in vitro. Nutrition. 2009 Mar;25(3):340-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2008.08.012. Epub 2008 Nov 26. PubMed 19036562 ↗
  • Tuma P, Gojda J. Rapid determination of branched chain amino acids in human blood plasma by pressure-assisted capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. Electrophoresis. 2015 Aug;36(16):1969-75. doi: 10.1002/elps.201400585. Epub 2015 Apr 8. PubMed 25639649 ↗
  • Tuma P. Rapid determination of globin chains in red blood cells by capillary electrophoresis using INSTCoated fused-silica capillary. J Sep Sci. 2014 Apr;37(8):1026-32. doi: 10.1002/jssc.201400044. Epub 2014 Mar 13. PubMed 24677638 ↗
  • Rocha DM, Faloona GR, Unger RH. Glucagon-stimulating activity of 20 amino acids in dogs. J Clin Invest. 1972 Sep;51(9):2346-51. doi: 10.1172/JCI107046. PubMed 4639019 ↗
  • Pedroso JA, Zampieri TT, Donato J Jr. Reviewing the Effects of L-Leucine Supplementation in the Regulation of Food Intake, Energy Balance, and Glucose Homeostasis. Nutrients. 2015 May 22;7(5):3914-37. doi: 10.3390/nu7053914. PubMed 26007339 ↗
  • Palmer JP, Benson JW, Walter RM, Ensinck JW. Arginine-stimulated acute phase of insulin and glucagon secretion in diabetic subjects. J Clin Invest. 1976 Sep;58(3):565-70. doi: 10.1172/JCI108502. PubMed 783201 ↗
  • Vahl TP, Drazen DL, Seeley RJ, D'Alessio DA, Woods SC. Meal-anticipatory glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in rats. Endocrinology. 2010 Feb;151(2):569-75. doi: 10.1210/en.2009-1002. Epub 2009 Nov 13. PubMed 19915164 ↗
  • Marina AS, Kutina AV, Shakhmatova EI, Balbotkina EV, Natochin YV. Stimulation of glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion by water loading in human. Dokl Biol Sci. 2014 Nov;459:323-5. doi: 10.1134/S0012496614060027. Epub 2015 Jan 6. No abstract available. PubMed 25560206 ↗
  • Yang J, Wong RK, Park M, Wu J, Cook JR, York DA, Deng S, Markmann J, Naji A, Wolf BA, Gao Z. Leucine regulation of glucokinase and ATP synthase sensitizes glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Diabetes. 2006 Jan;55(1):193-201. PubMed 16380493 ↗
  • van Loon LJ, Kruijshoop M, Menheere PP, Wagenmakers AJ, Saris WH, Keizer HA. Amino acid ingestion strongly enhances insulin secretion in patients with long-term type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2003 Mar;26(3):625-30. doi: 10.2337/diacare.26.3.625. PubMed 12610012 ↗
  • Solerte SB, Fioravanti M, Locatelli E, Bonacasa R, Zamboni M, Basso C, Mazzoleni A, Mansi V, Geroutis N, Gazzaruso C. Improvement of blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity during a long-term (60 weeks) randomized study with amino acid dietary supplements in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Am J Cardiol. 2008 Jun 2;101(11A):82E-88E. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2008.03.006. PubMed 18514633 ↗
  • Gojda J, Strakova R, Plihalova A, Tuma P, Potockova J, Polak J, Andel M. Increased Incretin But Not Insulin Response after Oral versus Intravenous Branched Chain Amino Acids. Ann Nutr Metab. 2017;70(4):293-302. doi: 10.1159/000475604. Epub 2017 Jun 9. PubMed 28595189 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 8, 2016, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02697305
Lead sponsor
Charles University, Czech Republic
Responsible party
MUDr. Radka Straková (MD, Charles University, Czech Republic) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 3, 2016
Start date
Sep 2014
Primary completion
May 2015
Completion
Dec 2015
Last update
Mar 8, 2016

Study contacts

Michal Anděl, Prof., MD
principal investigator · 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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