Plasma Amino Acid Levels in Obese Adolescents: A Case-Control Study and the Review of the Literature

Pembe Soylu Üstkoyuncu; Durmuş Doğan; Fatih Kardaş; Mustafa Kendirci; Mehmet Akif Dündar; Arife Canpolat; Yasemin Altuner

doi:10.4274/jpea.2025.436

Authors

Pembe Soylu Üstkoyuncu University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Kayseri City Hospital, Department of Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism, Kayseri, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9867-1280
Durmuş Doğan Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Çanakkale, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5369-8797
Fatih Kardaş Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism, Kayseri, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2276-7611
Mustafa Kendirci University Hospital of Bağcılar Medipol Mega, Clinic of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, İstanbul, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2100-3628
Mehmet Akif Dündar University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Kayseri City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Kayseri, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3042-7999
Arife Canpolat University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Kayseri City Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Kayseri, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4184-3691
Yasemin Altuner İstinye University Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Pediatrics, İstanbul, Türkiye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9860-8596

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4274/jpea.2025.436

Keywords:

Amino acids, adolescent, obesity

Abstract

Optimal balance among amino acids in the circulation is important for body homeostasis. This study aims to evaluate and define the amino acids associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Fifty obese and 42 healthy adolescents aged 10-18 years were included in this study. Fasting plasma glucose, liver enzymes, thyroid function tests, insulin, and lipid levels were studied as routine laboratory examinations, and 26 plasma amino acids were studied as specific laboratory examinations. Isoleucine, leucine, lysine, tryptophan, glutamate, tyrosine, phenylalanine, alanine, methionine, argininosuccinic acid, histidine and valine were significantly higher in patients with obesity. Asparagine and citrulline levels were lower in patients with insulin resistance. The metabolic pathways of various amino acids are significantly impaired in obesity. Plasma concentrations of essential, non-essential, branchedchain, and aromatic amino acids were elevated in this study.