Project Number: 5306-51530-019-41
Project Type: General Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Feb 01, 2012
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
The ability of body tissues to efficiently convert nutrients to energy at the cellular site of this process (mitochondria) is impaired in several conditions of poor metabolic health. These include type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre-diabetes (the condition of increasingly poor control of blood sugar by the pancreatic hormone insulin, but prior to clinically high blood sugar levels). The exact mechanisms that drive this sub-optimal metabolism remain controversial, but the body of literature indicates that reduced numbers of mitochondria along with inefficiencies within each mitochondrion take place. The investigators have proposed that activity of the key enzyme of tissue breakdown of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is limited under these conditions, contributing to poor metabolic control. Provision of diets rich in BCAA, such as dairy, should trigger increased expression and activity of this enzyme (branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase, BCKD), supported by historic literature. It is hypothesized that an increase in BCKD by dairy or BCAAs will improve mitochondrial health in fat, muscle and other tissues. The proposal addresses this question using unique analytical and biological tools.

Approach:
A comprehensive analytical chemistry assay measuring >400 metabolites will be employed to test samples derived from the following project aim: Determine if increased intake of diets rich in dairy or dairy components modify blood biomarkers reflective of improved mitochondrial efficiency and health in humans.