Effect of a single high-fat meal on endothelial function in patients with the metabolic syndrome: role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
OBJECTIVE
A single high-fat meal may induce endothelial activation and dysfunction in both normal subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a high-fat meal on endothelial function in patients with the metabolic syndrome.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients with the metabolic syndrome (ATP III criteria) were matched for sex, age and body mass index with 25 subjects without the metabolic syndrome. All subjects ate under supervision a high fat meal (760 calories) with 59% energy from fat, 12% energy from protein and 29% energy from carbohydrates. Compared with the control group, subjects with the metabolic syndrome had reduced endothelial function, as assessed with the l-arginine test, and higher circulating levels of TNF-alpha. Following the high-fat meal, both triglyceride and TNF-alpha levels increased more in subjects with the metabolic syndrome than in subjects without, while endothelial function decreased more in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. There was a significant relation between increases in TNF-alpha levels and decreases in endothelial function score in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (r=-0.39, P=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
TNF-alpha levels are increased in subjects with the metabolic syndrome; moreover, a high-fat meal produces further increase in its levels associated with endothelial dysfunction.
Esposito
Katherine
K
Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Ciotola
Miryam
M
Sasso
Ferdinando C
FC
Cozzolino
Domenico
D
Saccomanno
Franco
F
Assaloni
Roberta
R
Ceriello
Antonio
A
Giugliano
Dario
D
D000328:Adult; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha