The association of aromatic amino acids with coronary artery disease and major adverse cardiovascular events in a Chinese population

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between aromatic amino acids (AAAs), - phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) - and coronary artery disease (CAD) in a prospective study involving 2970 participants undergoing coronary angiography at Beijing Hospital. Serum levels of Phe, Tyr and Trp were analysed. The cross-sectional data revealed that serum Tyr and Trp levels were significantly and inversely associated with CAD. During a median follow-up period of 44 months, 343 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and 138 all-cause deaths were recorded. MACE included myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularisation and all-cause mortality. Low serum Trp levels predicted an increased risk of MACE and death. High serum Phe levels were linked to an increased risk of MACE, while low Tyr levels were associated with a higher risk of death. Collectively, our findings underscore a close correlation between AAAs and CAD, as well as their potential predictive value for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.