Table 1_Association between dietary branched-chain amino acid intake and anaemia risk in children and adolescents: a matched case-control study.docx

After matching, total dietary protein intake was comparable between groups, whereas intakes of total BCAA, Ile, Leu, and Val were significantly lower in the anaemia group. In fully adjusted models, higher intakes of total BCAA, Ile, Leu, and Val were associated with lower odds of Hb-defined anaemia, with ORs of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92–0.99), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70–0.95), 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85–0.98) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78–0.95), respectively.

Supplementary biomarker analyses showed lower ferritin and higher soluble transferrin receptor concentrations in the anaemia group, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein did not differ between groups. These findings suggest that BCAA-related dietary characteristics may provide useful nutritional clues for anaemia-related assessment, although the association should not be interpreted as evidence of a BCAA-specific protective effect.</p>