Abstract
Post-meal triglycerides are an independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, but the ideal high-fat meal formulation has yet to be standardized and is one challenge prohibiting widespread clinical adoption of postprandial triglyceride assessment. Two general approaches often used are giving individuals a high-fat meal scaled to body weight or a standardized high-fat meal containing a set fat bolus. A recent expert panel statement has endorsed the latter, specifying 75 g of fat as an appropriate fat dosage. Despite this recommendation, no study to date has tested whether there is a difference in postprandial triglycerides or if risk classification is affected based on these different approaches. We recruited 16 generally healthy individuals with roughly equal distribution among body mass index (BMI)class (n = 5–6/per BMI category) and sex (n = 2–3 M/F) within each BMI class. Each participant underwent two abbreviated fat tolerance tests separated by ~1 week: one with a scaled to body weight high-fat meal (9 kcal/kg; 70% fat) and a standardized meal containing 75 g of fat (70% fat). Fasting, 4 h, and absolute change in triglycerides across the entire sample and within each BMI category were similar regardless of high-fat meal. Only one participant with obesity had discordant postprandial responses between the fat tolerance tests (i.e., different CVD risk classification). These findings suggest that, within a certain range of fat intake, generally healthy individuals will have a similar postprandial triglyceride response. Considering the greater convenience of utilizing standardized high-fat meals, our data suggest that a standardized high-fat meal may be acceptable for large-scale studies and clinical implementation.
Highlights
Interest in post-meal triglycerides as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor has grown in recent years, largely due to the finding that nonfasting triglycerides are an independent CVD risk factor [1,2]
Similar measurement—postprandial triglycerides—is more controlled than nonfasting triglycerides and may be preferred [3].postprandial protocols are accompanied by other challenges including long assessment periods in research laboratories and lack of consensus as to whether high-fat meals should be scaled to body weight or administered as a set fat bolus
It is possible that individuals with obesity will have artificially elevated triglycerides compared to normal-weight individuals that is driven by higher fat intake with a scaled to body weight meal, not underlying metabolic disturbances that contribute to postprandial hyperlipidemia
Summary
Interest in post-meal triglycerides as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor has grown in recent years, largely due to the finding that nonfasting triglycerides (i.e., triglycerides measured within 8 h of eating any meal) are an independent CVD risk factor [1,2]. It is possible that individuals with obesity will have artificially elevated triglycerides compared to normal-weight individuals that is driven by higher fat intake with a scaled to body weight meal, not underlying metabolic disturbances that contribute to postprandial hyperlipidemia Despite this disagreement over high-fat meal composition, no study to date has directly tested whether there is a measurable difference in postprandial triglycerides when consuming a high-fat meal administered as a standardized bolus versus scaled to body weight or if a given individual would change risk categories per current guidelines (i.e., above or below 220 mg/dL) depending on differences in high-fat meal formulation [6]. 83.8 ± 19.6 76.5 ± 7.4 83.6 ± 15.5 92.6 ± 30.9 body mass indexes (BMI)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
