Branched-chain amino acids, history of gestational diabetes, and breastfeeding: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Background and aims: To examine the associations between history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and breastfeeding with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and their metabolites in later life. Methods and results: 638 women (mean age 48.0 y) who had participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study and substudies of pregnancy history had untargeted, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy conducted by Metabolon (c) on serum samples. Metabolites were identified that were BCAA or associated with BCAA metabolic pathways. History of GDM at any pregnancy (self-reported, confirmed with medical records when possible) as well as breastfeeding were examined as predictors of BCAA using linear models, controlling for age, race, BMI, waist circumference, and menopausal status. None of the BCAA differed statistically by history of either GDM or breastfeeding, although absolute levels of each of the BCAA were higher with GDM and lower with breastfeeding. Of the 27 metabolites on the leucine, isoleucine and valine metabolism subpathway, 1-carboxyethylleucine, 1-carboxyethyvaline, and 3-hydroxy-2ethylpropionate were higher in women with a history of GDM, but lower in women in women with a history of breastfeeding. Similar results were found for alpha-hydroxyisocaproate, 1carboxyethylisoleucine, and N-acetylleucine. Conclusions: GDM and breastfeeding are associated in opposite directions with several metabolites on the BCAA metabolic pathway. (C) 2020 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.