The effect on adipose tissue blood flow of isoenergetic meals containing different amounts and types of fat.

Abstract

To investigate the factors regulating the increase in adipose tissue blood flow following meals. Eight subjects were fed three isoenergetic meals; two high-fat meals rich in either saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids and one low-fat, high-carbohydrate meal. Blood samples were taken and adipose tissue blood flow was measured before and for 6 h after the meal. Plasma glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acid, total and chylomicron-triacylglycerol and catecholamine concentrations were measured. Adipose tissue blood flow rose to a peak after all three meals (P<0.05 for each). The three meals stimulated adipose tissue blood flow at similar times. There was a marked and statistically significant similarity in the time course of changes in blood flow and insulin concentrations. In contrast, noradrenaline concentrations peaked later than adipose tissue blood flow (P=0.014). Adipose tissue blood flow may be 'carbohydrate-stimulated' rather than 'fat-stimulated', with insulin having a vasodilatory role in adipose tissue as in skeletal muscle.