Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia increases circulating levels of endothelial cell microparticles.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated a possible relationship between levels of endothelial microparticles (EMPs), known to be a sensitive indicator of endothelial disturbance, and changes in postprandial lipid levels in healthy volunteers after a low- or high-fat meal.


RESULTS
Eighteen healthy subjects without known cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated. Lipid and EMP levels were measured before and 1 and 3 hours after a single low- or high-fat isocaloric meal. The low-fat meal had no significant postprandial effect on EMPs or lipids compared with fasting levels. In contrast, a single high-fat meal significantly increased EMP levels after 1 and 3 hours, from 389+/-54 (thousands per milliliter) when fasting to 541+/-139 (P=0.0002) and 677+/-159 (P<0.0001), respectively, and correlated with a postprandial elevation in serum triglycerides.


CONCLUSIONS
A single high-fat meal led to a significant elevation of plasma EMP levels in healthy, normolipidemic subjects and correlated with a postprandial elevation of serum triglycerides. EMPs may be an indirect marker of endothelial dysfunction or injury induced by postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
Ferreira
Alexandre C
AC
University of Miami School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, Miami, Fla, USA. aferreir@med.miami.edu
Peter
Arley A
AA
Mendez
Armando J
AJ
Jimenez
Joaquín J
JJ
Mauro
Lucia M
LM
Chirinos
Julio A
JA
Ghany
Reyan
R
Virani
Salim
S
Garcia
Santiago
S
Horstman
Lawrence L
LL
Purow
Joshua
J
Jy
Wenche
W
Ahn
Yeon S
YS
de Marchena
Eduardo
E
D000328:Adult; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides