Abstract
Research suggests that attention, mood, and satiety can be influenced by meal composition and postprandial activity. The present study examined whether this hypothesis applies to persons with a risk phenotype for the development of cardiovascular/neurodegenerative diseases. A randomized crossover trial was conducted in subjects with metabolic syndrome traits (n = 26, 8 female, age 70 ± 5, BMI 30.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2). Each subject participated in four interventions: iso-energetic (4300 kJ) meals (Western diet high-fat, WD, and Mediterranean-type diet, MD) followed by either 30 min of moderate walking (4.6 ± 0.1 km/h) or rest. Attention, mood, satiety and plasma cortisol concentrations were measured at fasting and 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 h postprandially. Data were analyzed by linear mixed models. In all interventions, attention increased continuously in the postprandial period (time effect, P < 0.001). After WD, attention was lower after walking compared to resting (meal × activity effect, P < 0.05). Postprandial mood was generally “good” with no intervention effects. Postprandial satiety increased reaching maximum at 1.5 h after meal (time effect, P < 0.001) and was higher after MD compared to WD (meal effect, P < 0.001). In all interventions, plasma cortisol decreased similar to its diurnal variation (time effect, P < 0.001). In our subjects, meal composition had no relevant impact on attention and mood. After typical WD, resting instead of walking seems to have a more beneficial effect on postprandial attention. MD leads to a strong and long-lasting feeling of satiety, possibly resulting in reduced energy intake in the further course of the day and, thus, long-term effect on weight control.
Highlights
Research suggests that the sedentary lifestyle of today’s Western societies is associated with the development of chronic systemic low-grade inflammation, which is at the root of many typicallyWestern diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome [1]
Generates higher postprandial satiety, postprandial attention and a better subjective mood than an iso-energetic Western diet high-fat meal (WD); and (ii) Moderate walking in the postprandial period as compared to remaining sedentary, results in increased postprandial attention and a better subjective mood. In addition to these main hypotheses, this study examined the impact of plasma cortisol concentration on postprandial attention, since elevated systemic cortisol concentrations have been associated with detrimental effects on cognition and a long-term contribution to Alzheimer’s disease pathology [19,20]
The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute impact of dietary composition and moderate postmeal walking on postprandial attention, mood, and the sensations of hunger and satiety in older subjects with a risk phenotype for the development of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases
Summary
Research suggests that the sedentary lifestyle of today’s Western societies is associated with the development of chronic systemic low-grade inflammation, which is at the root of many typicallyWestern diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome [1]. Especially regular aerobic activity has been consistently reported to prevent mental illness (e.g., depression) and alleviate mood problems, as well as to improve cognitive and brain function, but even acute, moderate activity sessions seem to exert similar effects [2,3,4,5]. In this context, different research studies describe modulators of effect size being the temporal sequencing of cognitive assessment in relation to exercise (e.g., following exercise session or during exercise session), the modality of aerobic training (e.g., cycling or running), and the cognitive parameters measured (e.g., memory or processing speed), as well as age and medical condition [3,4,6]. Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that an adherence to plant-based dietary patterns, especially the Mediterranean dietary pattern, is associated with improved cognitive performance, slower age-related cognitive decline and lower risk of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease in older adults [11,12,13,14]
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