Effect of acute exercise and exercise training on the ability of insulin to clear branched‑chain amino acids from plasma in obesity and type 2 diabetes – published online 22/05/2025

Pauline M. Møller, Rasmus Kjøbsted, Maria H. Petersen, Martin E. de Almeida, Andreas J. T. Pedersen, Jørgen F. P. Wojtaszewski, Kurt Højlund

Certain essential amino acids, known as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), are often found at higher levels in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Increased levels of BCAAs in the blood have been linked to insulin resistance and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Normally, insulin—a central hormone in regulating blood glucose levels—reduces circulating BCAA levels. In this issue, Møller et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-025-06454-y) report that insulin’s ability to lower BCAA levels is impaired in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, the authors found that while exercise training significantly improves insulin sensitivity in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, it does not reduce BCAA levels or improve insulin’s ability to suppress BCAA levels. The authors conclude that these findings suggest a dissociation between BCAAs and insulin sensitivity, thus raising the question of whether circulating BCAAs should be considered biomarkers or targets for future therapies aimed at treating insulin resistance.

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