Branched-chain amino acids improve insulin resistance in patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease: report of two cases

  1. Takumi Kawaguchi1,2,
  2. Eitaro Taniguchi2,
  3. Minoru Itou2,
  4. Shuji Sumie2,
  5. Tetsuharu Oriishi2,
  6. Hisako Matsuoka1,
  7. Yumiko Nagao1,2,
  8. Michio Sata1,2

Article first published online: 6 SEP 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01559.x

Issue

Liver International

Liver International

Volume 27, Issue 9, pages 1287–1292, November 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kawaguchi, T., Taniguchi, E., Itou, M., Sumie, S., Oriishi, T., Matsuoka, H., Nagao, Y. and Sata, M. (2007), Branched-chain amino acids improve insulin resistance in patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease: report of two cases. Liver International, 27: 1287–1292. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2007.01559.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Digestive Disease Information & Research, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

  2. 2

    Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan

*Correspondence Takumi Kawaguchi, MD, PhD, Department of Digestive Disease Information & Research, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume 830-0011, Japan. Tel: +81 942 31 7902 Fax: +81 942 31 7747 e-mail: takumi@med.kurume-u.ac.jp

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 SEP 2007
  2. Article first published online: 6 SEP 2007
  3. Received 21 March 2007accepted 6 June 2007

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Keywords:

  • branched-chain amino acids;
  • hepatitis C virus;
  • insulin resistance;
  • lipid metabolism;
  • nutritional support;
  • protein-energy malnutrition

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes insulin resistance. Because increased insulin resistance is a risk factor for development of hepatocellular carcinoma and reduced long-term survival, insulin resistance is a therapeutic target in patients with HCV infection. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are not only structural constituents of proteins but they are also considered as regulators of insulin signalling. We first describe two cases suggesting that administration of BCAAs improves insulin resistance associated with HCV-related liver disease. Although there were no changes in body weight, plasma glucose concentration and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) value were decreased. Moreover, BCAAs caused a decrease in both fasting insulin concentration and the value of homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance. Thus, BCAAs are a potential therapeutic agent for improving insulin resistance in patients with HCV-related liver disease.

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