The effect of a mixed meal on endothelium-dependent vasodilation is dependent on fat content in healthy humans.
Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) is an early marker of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate how meals with different fat contents influence endothelial vasodilatory function. A total of 26 young, healthy men and women aged 20-30 years ingested an ordinary Western meal [34 energy% (E%) fat, n =10], or isocaloric meals with low-fat (20 E%, n =8), or minimal-fat (3 E%, n =8) content. EDV was assessed as forearm blood flow (FBF) during local administration of 4 microg/min methacholine chloride (Mch-FBF) and endothelium-independent vasodilation as FBF during administration of 10 microg/min sodium nitroprusside (SNP-FBF) at baseline and 1 and 2 h after each meal. FBF was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. An endothelial function index (EFI) was calculated as the Mch-FBF/SNP-FBF ratio. Both Mch-FBF and the EFI were decreased at 1 h after the 34 E% fat meal ( P <0.01 and P <0.05 respectively), but approached fasting levels after 2 h. Mch-FBF and EFI did not change significantly in the group consuming the 20 E% fat meal, but increased in the 3 E% fat group ( P <0.01 and P <0.05 compared with baseline for Mch-FBF and EFI respectively). SNP-FBF was not significantly affected by any of the meals. In conclusion, low-fat meals did not attenuate EDV, in contrast with an ordinary Western meal, which transiently impaired EDV. Our findings indicate that a dietary fat content of 20 E% or less might be beneficial to endothelial vasodilatory function.
Steer
Peter
P
Department of Medical Sciences/Internal Medicine, University Hospital, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Peter.Steer@medsci.uu.se
Sarabi
Dennis M
DM
Karlström
Brita
B
Basu
Samar
S
Berne
Christian
C
Vessby
Bengt
B
Lind
Lars
L
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside