Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk - Nature Metabolism
www.nature.com
Zhang et al. use human studies and mechanistic work in mouse models to describe how leucine serves as the key amino acid derived from dietary protein to drive deleterious macrophage mTORC1 signalling and promote cardiovascular disease.
    • Nfamwap@lemmy.world
      25·
      7 months ago

      Abstract

      High protein intake is common in western societies and is often promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle; however, amino-acid-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in macrophages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. In a series of clinical studies on male and female participants (NCT03946774 and NCT03994367) that involved graded amounts of protein ingestion together with detailed plasma amino acid analysis and human monocyte/macrophage experiments, we identify leucine as the key activator of mTOR signalling in macrophages. We describe a threshold effect of high protein intake and circulating leucine on monocytes/macrophages wherein only protein in excess of ∼25 g per meal induces mTOR activation and functional effects. By designing specific diets modified in protein and leucine content representative of the intake in the general population, we confirm this threshold effect in mouse models and find ingestion of protein in excess of ∼22% of dietary energy requirements drives atherosclerosis in male mice. These data demonstrate a mechanistic basis for the adverse impact of excessive dietary protein on cardiovascular risk.

    • streetfestival@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      I’m used to seeing a small and hard to see Manage Preferences link in that banner that provides a button to reject optional cookies, but we might see different things based on region

      • The Giant Korean@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        7 months ago

        Well, looking past the platform, Aragon is very well respected in the nutrition and fitness space and is known for taking an evidence based approach.

        • Omega_Haxors@lemmy.mlEnglish
          21·
          7 months ago

          Still won’t catch me dead using a facebook product. I have that shit permanently banned on my network.

    • 1rre@discuss.tchncs.de
      2·
      7 months ago

      I mean dietary requirements do differ between ethnicities due to different levels of fat and muscle gain per “neutral” calorie, and it just so happens that Northern & Eastern European people (ie people traditionally considered White) have about a 20% lower tendancy to convert calories to fat over other things (bone, muscle etc.) when compared to the average human - South Asian people have about a 20% higher tendancy towards fat whereas most other ethnicities are very close to the average.

      So excess protein being a greater issue in Western society (where thre are more White people) actually kind of tracks, as there’s going to be too much protein/amino acid availability as their bodies are more proactive about producing them from other food types anyway.

  • Supersonic Stork@beehaw.orgEnglish
    3·
    7 months ago

    So I’ve been reading through this study and comparing it to modern health advice. For the most part, the 22% of energy threshold seems to be above 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kg of body weight (for active individuals).

    The functional advice is: following the guidelines from the FDA will keep you out of the risks outlined in the study.

  • RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world
    3·
    7 months ago

    Something my brother is intimately familiar with. He was on Atkins until he had a mini stroke, and now he’s got an irregular heartbeat and swollen toes.

    Didn’t learn his lesson about fad diets, though. Now he’s on one that is supposed to fix the damage done by Atkins.