Effect of a single high-fat meal on endothelial function in patients with the metabolic syndrome: Role of tumor necrosis factor-α

Esposito, Katherine; Ciotola, Miryam; Sasso, Ferdinando C.; Cozzolino, Domenico; Saccomanno, Franco; Assaloni, Roberta; Ceriello, Antonio; Giugliano, Dario

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2005.11.014

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 274-279, May 2007

Effect of a single high-fat meal on endothelial function in patients with the metabolic syndrome: Role of tumor necrosis factor-α

Katherine Esposito
- Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Centro di Eccellenza Cardiovascolare, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Miryam Ciotola
- Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Ferdinando C. Sasso
- Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Domenico Cozzolino
- Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Franco Saccomanno
- Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
Roberta Assaloni
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, Experimental and Clinical, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Antonio Ceriello
- Department of Pathology and Medicine, Experimental and Clinical, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Dario Giugliano
- Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Centro di Eccellenza Cardiovascolare, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Corresponding author. Chair and Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Piazza L. Miraglia, 80138 Naples, Italy Tel./fax: +39 081 566 5054.

Received 26 May 2005; received in revised form 27 July 2005; accepted 2 November 2005. published online 03 July 2006.

Abstract

Background and aims

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.

Methods and 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-α. Following the high-fat meal, both triglyceride and TNF-α 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-α levels and decreases in endothelial function score in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (r=−0.39, P=0.03).

Conclusion

TNF-α levels are increased in subjects with the metabolic syndrome; moreover, a high-fat meal produces further increase in its levels associated with endothelial dysfunction.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, High-fat meal, TNF-α, Endothelial function, Triglycerides