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Association between dietary essential amino acids intake and metabolic biomarkers: influence of obesity among Chinese children and adolescents

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Abstract

Essential amino acids (EAAs) are involved in growth and development in children and adolescents. This study was aimed at exploring the relationship between dietary EAA intakes and metabolic biomarker, and the influence of obesity in children and adolescents. A total of 3566 subjects were analysed. Participators were classified according to weight status. Metabolic biomarkers were determined using standardized methods and conditions. Normal, overweight, and obesity statuses were defined according to the Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) BMI cutoff points based on age- and sex-specific screening criteria. In normal-weight group, blood uric acid was negatively correlated with dietary Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, and His, and zinc was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, Met, and Trp. In overweight group, TC was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Phe, Val, and His, and LDL-C was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, and Met, while TG was positively correlated with Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, and Met. In obesity group, hemoglobin was positively related to Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, and Trp, while vitamin D was positively correlated with His and Trp. The serum creatinine was negatively correlated with Ile, Leu, Phe, Val, His, and Met in normal-weight group, and positively correlated with Ile, Leu, Lys, Phe, Thr, Val, His, Met, Trp, His, and Trp in obesity group. Dietary amino acid score (AAS) and Leu intake were protective factors for obesity. The association between fasting blood glucose and EAAs intake was weak and labile. Metabolic biomarkers and EAA intakes were only related under certain weight status. The dietary AAS is positively correlated with HDL-C, LDL-C, serum creatinine, albumin, serum vitamin D, and zinc. The subtle relationship of EAAs and kidney function should be explored further. There is a complex relationship between EAAs and metabolic biomarkers, and overweight and obesity have a certain influence on this relationship.

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Acknowledgements

The study was financed by National Key R&D Program [2016YFC1305201] of China and Shandong Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Project 2019WS436. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. This study was supported by the China National Nutrition and Health Survey Program. Surveys are conducted under the auspices of the Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Shandong CDC), Shibei CDC, Penglai CDC, Lijin CDC, Shouguang CDC, Wucheng CDC, Lanshan CDC, Dong'e CDC, Linzi CDC, Laizhou CDC, Sishui CDC, Yishui CDC, Lingcheng CDC, and Dingtao CDC. We thank all the team members and all participants.

Funding

The study was financed by National Key R&D Program [2016YFC1305201] of China and Shandong Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Project 2019WS436.

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Author notes

  1. Yanmo Li, Qian Zhang, Lichao Zhu, Ning Ding and Bingyin Zhang have contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

  2. Wenjie Liu and Suyun Li have contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-corresponding authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China

    Lianlong Yu & Jian Zhang

  2. Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China

    Lianlong Yu, Yanmo Li, Bingyin Zhang, Junli Zhang, Wenjie Liu & Suyun Li

  3. Law Enforcement and Supervision Bureau of Shandong Provincial Health Commission, Jinan, Shandong, China

    Qian Zhang

  4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China

    Lichao Zhu

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China

    Ning Ding

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  1. Lianlong Yu
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Contributions

JZ, SL, and WL participated in research conceptualization, design, and supervision as well as analysis and interpretation of data. LY, YL, LZ, ND, and BZ contributed to data analysis and interpretation. QZ and JZ provided administrative, technical, and figure support for the research as well as analyzed and explained the data.

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Correspondence to Jian Zhang.

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Ethical approval was obtained from Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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All laboratory tests and investigations here were conducted under proper ethical standards for either animal or human research.

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All participants voluntarily joined this study with informed consent.

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Handling editor: J. M. Phang.

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Yu, L., Li, Y., Zhang, Q. et al. Association between dietary essential amino acids intake and metabolic biomarkers: influence of obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Amino Acids 53, 635–644 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-021-02970-4

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