Effects of low and high carbohydrate meals on postprandial plasma lipid concentrations

Abstract

BackgroundChronic postprandial hyperlipidemia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Very low carbohydrate (VLC) diets are a popular choice for weight‐loss, but acute effects of VLC diets on postprandial plasma fatty acids have not been tested.MethodsFour healthy, normal weight adults participated in a randomized crossover feeding study. Subjects consumed a standard diet [51% carbohydrate (CHO), 14% protein, 35% fat] for 3 days. On day 4 participants consumed either VLC (4%) or high CHO [HC (58%)] meals. Subjects then repeated standard diet and alternate test meals. Pre‐ and postprandial concentrations of plasma triglycerides (TG) and individual fatty acids were analyzed by modified Wahlefeld method and GC/MS, respectively. Differences between diets were compared by paired t‐tests.ResultsTG were significantly higher on the VLC diet compared to the HC diet (Area under the curve for TG: VLC 1217±420 and HC1033±369 mg·h/dL, p=0.03). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were significantly higher 4 hours after a VLC meal (VLC 19960±1094 vs HC 12193±906 µmol/L, p=0.020). There was no difference in postprandial omega‐6 or omega‐3 fatty acid concentrations between diets.ConclusionsPlasma‐TG and SFA were higher after the VLC meals when compared to the HC meals. Chronic elevation of postprandial lipids may contribute to the development of CVD. Supported by the Graduate Programs in Human Nutrition, PHS Grant UL1 RR024140, and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (R21 AT002753‐01).