Branched-Chain Amino Acid Database Integrated in MEDIPAD Software as a Tool for Nutritional Investigation of Mediterranean Populations

The Evaluation of Videos about Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplements on YouTube™: A Multi-Approach Study

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are one of the most controversial ergogenic aids in terms of effectiveness and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of BCAA supplements related to English videos on YouTube^™ and to synthesize with the sentiment-emotion analysis of comments on videos. The content analysis of the information on videos was evaluated with the use of DISCERN, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). In addition, word cloud and sentiment and emotional analysis of comments in videos were performed with the R package. As a result, the mean ± standard error values of DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS scores of all videos were 29.27 ± 1.97, 1.95 ± 0.12, and 2.13 ± 0.17, respectively. It was found that advertisement-free videos have a significantly higher DISCERN and GQS score than advertisement-included videos (p < 0.05). A moderately significant positive correlation was determined between DISCERN score of video content and the positive sentiment of video comments (rs: 0.400, p = 0.002). In conclusion, it was determined that BCAA-related YouTube^™ videos have mostly very poor quality in terms of content and that videos with higher quality may receive positive comments from viewers according to the DISCERN instrument.

Food consumption of branched chain amino acids and insulin resistance: A systematic review of observational studies in humans

This review systematically investigated observational studies in humans that evaluated the dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and its association with insulin resistance. A search implemented through the electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The evaluation of insulin resistance or the risk of developing insulin resistance in humans were the variables of interest in the search for articles. After using the selection criteria, three studies included in this review. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was the instrument used to evaluate the diet in all of the selected studies. Overall, 1940 studies identified and three thoroughly reviewed. We found only one study with positive effects of BCAA on insulin resistance; the other two reviewed studies did not demonstrate positive effects of the dietary intake of BCAA, individually or the sum of three amino acids on variables of interest. In this sense, the associations between BCAA and insulin resistance are inconsistent, potentially due to other longitudinal outcomes.

HOW GENETICISTS CONTRIBUTE TO UNDERSTANDING OF COVID-19 DISEASE PATHOGENICITY

Human populations are faced to the COVID-19 pandemic due to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus originating from Wuhan (China) and with dramatic Public Health consequences. Despite periods of panic, the scientific community demonstrated an incredible innovation potential and energy ending up in one year with new vaccines to be used in population. Researchers are interrogating on how individual genetic differences contribute to the diversity of clinical manifestations or ethnic and geographic disparities of COVID-19. While efforts were spent to understand mechanistically the infectious potential of the virus, recent progresses in molecular genetics and bioinformatics allowed the characterization of viral sequence and construction of phylogeographical maps of viral dispersion worldwide. These data will help understanding epidemiological disparities among continents and ethnic populations. Much effort was also spent in analyzing host genetics by studying individual genes involved in innate and immune responses or explaining pathogenesis of comorbidities that complicate the fate of elderly patients. Several international consortia launched already Genome wide Association Studies (GWAS) and whole genome sequencing strategies to identify genetic markers with immediate application in patients at risk of respiratory failure. These new genetic data are important not only for understanding susceptibility factors for COVID-19 but they also contain an important message of hope for mankind warranting our survival and health.

Fine-scale haplotype mapping of MUT, AACS, SLC6A15 and PRKCA genes indicates association with insulin resistance of metabolic syndrome and relationship with branched chain amino acid metabolism or regulation

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are essential elements of the human diet, which display increased plasma levels in obesity and regained particular interest as potential biomarkers for development of diabetes. To define determinants of insulin resistance (IR) we investigated 73 genes involved in BCAA metabolism or regulation by fine-scale haplotype mapping in two European populations with metabolic syndrome. French and Romanians (n = 465) were genotyped for SNPs (Affymetrix) and enriched by imputation (BEAGLE 4.1) at 1000 genome project density. Initial association hits detected by sliding window were refined (HAPLOVIEW 3.1 and PHASE 2.1) and correlated to homeostasis model assessment (HOMAIR) index, in vivo insulin sensitivity (SI) and BCAA plasma levels (ANOVA). Four genomic regions were associated with IR located downstream of MUT, AACS, SLC6A15 and PRKCA genes (P between 9.3 and 3.7 x 10-5). Inferred haplotypes up to 13 SNPs length were associated with IR (e.g. MUT gene with P < 4.9 x 10-5; Bonferroni 1.3 x 10-3) and synergistic to HOMAIR. SNPs in the same regions were also associated with one order of magnitude lower P values (e.g. rs20167284 in the MUT gene with P < 1.27 x 10-4) and replicated in Mediterranean samples (n = 832). In French, influential haplotypes (OR > 2.0) were correlated with in vivo insulin sensitivity (1/SI) except for SLC6A15 gene. Association of these genes with BCAA levels was variable, but influential haplotypes confirmed implication of MUT from BCAA metabolism as well as a role of regulatory genes (AACS and PRKCA) and suggested potential changes in transcriptional activity. These data drive attention towards new regulatory regions involved in IR in relation with BCAA and show the ability of haplotypes in phased DNA to detect signals complimentary to SNPs, which may be useful in designing genetic markers for clinical applications in ethnic populations.