Sex differences in the association between plasma branched-chain amino acids and risk of ischemic stroke: A nested case-control study from China.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the prospective associations between plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and the risk of ischemic stroke in men and women.

METHODS

We conducted a nested case-control study within a community-based cohort in China. The cohort consisted of 15,926 participants in 2013-2018. A total of 321 ischemic stroke cases were identified during the follow up and individually matched with 321 controls by date of birth (±1 year) and sex. Females accounted for 55.8% (n = 358, 179 cases vs 179 controls) of the study population. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the association between plasma BCAAs and ischemic stroke risk by conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Elevated plasma isoleucine was associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke in women. The OR for the highest compared to the lowest quartile was 2.22 (95% CI: 1.11-4.44, P trend = 0.005) after adjustment for body mass index, education attainment, smoking, hypertension, renal function, menopause and physical activity. A similar association was found for total BCAAs (adjusted OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.05-3.95, P trend = 0.04). In contrast, no significant association of plasma BCAAs with ischemic stroke risk was observed in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma isoleucine and total BCAAs were significantly associated with ischemic stroke risk in women, but not in men, highlighting sex differences in BCAAs metabolism and stroke pathogenesis.