Background and Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health issue with increasing morbidity and mortality. Early stages are often asymptomatic, delaying diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and catecholamine hormones-dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in CKD patients in Thi-Qar province, Iraq.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 88 patients with CKD and 40 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected, and serum levels of BCAAs (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) and catecholamines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Sunlong Biotech, China). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. The Mann-Whitney U test compared group means, and Spearman’s rank correlation assessed associations between variables. Statistical significance was defined as P <0.05.
Results: BCAA concentrations were significantly lower in CKD patients compared with controls (35.53 ± 3.37 μg/ml vs 61.06 ± 5.39 μg/ml; P <0.001). Catecholamine levels were also significantly reduced in CKD patients: dopamine (20.22 ± 8.18 pg/ml vs 48.80 ± 13.74 pg/ml), epinephrine (0.22 ± 0.072 pg/ml vs 0.48 ± 0.13 pg/ml), and norepinephrine (1.21 ± 0.23 pg/ml vs 2.31 ± 0.40 pg/ml) (all P <0.001). Positive correlations were observed between BCAA and dopamine (r = 0.11), epinephrine (r = 0.22), and norepinephrine (r = 0.22).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that reduced BCAA levels in CKD may be associated with impaired catecholamine synthesis. Monitoring these biomarkers could aid in disease management. Early nutritional interventions, including amino acid supplementation, may benefit patients and warrant further investigation.