St-Jean A, et al. – This assessment was carried out to evaluate the relationship between childhood plasma branched-chain (BCAAs) and aromatic amino acids (AAAs), and behavioral problems in young Inuit from Nunavik. Findings revealed that higher BCAA/AAA ratios in childhood were significantly associated with somatic complaints in adolescence.

Methods

• The clinicians examined 181 children (with a mean age of 11.4 years at baseline) involved in the Nunavik Child Development Study.
• In childhood, plasma BCAA and AAA concentrations were measured (2005–2010). 
• BCAA/AAA tertiles—the ratio of total BCAAs to AAAs—were considered as surrogate categorical independent variables.
• Behavioral problems were assessed with the Youth Self-Report (YSR) from the Child Behavior Checklist about 7 years later during adolescence (2013–2016).
•  ANOVA ascertained relationships between BCAA/AAA tertiles and YSR outcomes.

Results

• Ascending BCAA/AAA tertiles were positively associated (P_trend<0.05) with somatic complaint scores.
• Among both normal and overweight/obese participants, scores of somatic complaints syndrome were significantly higher (P_trend<0.05) with increasing BCAA/AAA tertiles.