Postprandial variations of plasma inflammatory markers in abdominally obese men.
OBJECTIVE
Abdominal obesity is associated with a fasting proinflammatory condition. However, not much is known of the potential variations in circulating inflammatory markers after food intake. The purpose of the present study was to examine postprandial changes in plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in men and their potential associations with fat distribution and metabolic profile variables.


METHODS
Thirty-eight men were given a high-fat meal in the morning after an overnight fast, and TNF-alpha, IL-6, and CRP levels were measured in plasma at 0, 4, and 8 hours after the meal. Physical and metabolic profiles were also assessed for each participant.


RESULTS
We observed a substantial increase in circulating IL-6 levels (p < 0.0001) after the meal. Although postprandial variations in circulating TNF-alpha levels across time failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.02), we noted a significant decrease in plasma TNF-alpha concentrations 4 hours (-10%, p < 0.001 vs. 0 hours) after food intake. Plasma CRP levels were not affected by the fat load. We also noted that insulin-sensitive individuals displayed a less pronounced inflammatory response after food intake than insulin-resistant subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of the present study show that consumption of a high-fat meal leads to an increase in plasma IL-6 concentrations and transient decrease in circulating TNF-alpha levels in overweight men. Our results suggest a possible role of insulin resistance in the modulation of the postprandial inflammatory response, which could, in turn, contribute to worsen the state of insulin resistance.
Blackburn
Patricia
P
Department of Physical Activity and Health Sciences, Université du Quebec A Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada.
Després
Jean-Pierre
JP
Lamarche
Benoît
B
Tremblay
Angelo
A
Bergeron
Jean
J
Lemieux
Isabelle
I
Couillard
Charles
C
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein