Carbohydrate ingestion does not suppress increases in fatty acid-binding protein 4 concentrations post-acute aerobic exercise in healthy men: a randomized crossover study

Abstract Background Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Acute aerobic exercise increases circulating FABP4 concentrations, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inhibition of lipolysis by carbohydrate ingestion on circulating FABP4 concentrations during and after acute aerobic exercise in healthy men. Methods Men aged between 20 and 40, with no exercise habits and no metabolic diseases, were recruited. In a randomized crossover design, the participants underwent a carbohydrate-ingestion exercise (CE) and a fasted exercise (FE) trial. The CE trial consisted of 40-min acute aerobic exercise with ingestion of carbohydrates and 60-min bed rest. The FE trial followed the same protocol as the CE trial but without carbohydrate ingestion. Venous blood samples were collected to measure hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and insulin) metabolites (glycerol, free fatty acids, and glucose), and FABP4 concentrations. Ventilation and gas exchange were also collected to measure substrate oxidation. Results Thirteen healthy men participated in and completed both the CE and FE trials. The insulin concentration was more than 4 times higher in the CE trial than in the FE trial (p  2.00). Free fatty acid concentrations were more than 4 times lower in the CE trial than in the FE trial (p  2.04). However, there was no significant difference in the changes in circulating FABP4 concentrations between the CE and FE trials (p = 0.108), which did not change during aerobic exercise and significantly increased post-aerobic exercise in both trials (p  1.212). Changes in FABP4 concentrations following aerobic exercise were not significantly correlated with changes in glycerol or free fatty acid concentrations during aerobic exercise. Conclusions The results suggest that suppression of lipolysis and elevation of insulin are not strongly involved in increases in FABP4 secretion following acute aerobic exercise

Short-term high-fat diet alters postprandial glucose metabolism and circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in healthy males

Short-term intake of a high-fat diet aggravates postprandial glucose metabolism; however, the dose–response relationship has not been investigated. We hypothesized that short-intake of a eucaloric low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet (LCHF) would aggravate postprandial glucose metabolism and circulating adhesion molecules in healthy males. Seven healthy young males (mean ± SE age: 26 ± 1 years) consumed either a eucaloric control diet (C, approximately 25% fats), a eucaloric intermediate-carbohydrate/intermediate-fat diet (ICIF, approximately 50% fats), or a LCHF (approximately 70% fats) for 3 days. An oral meal tolerance test (MTT) was performed after the 3-day dietary intervention. The concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were determined at rest and during MTT. The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of plasma glucose concentration during MTT was significantly higher in LCHF than in C (P = 0.009). The first-phase insulin secretion indexes were significantly lower in LCHF than in C (P = 0.04). Moreover, the iAUC of GLP-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations was significantly higher in LCHF than in C (P = 0.014 and P = 0.04, respectively). The metabolites from ICIF and C were not significantly different. In conclusion, short-term intake of eucaloric diet containing a high percentage of fats in healthy men excessively increased postprandial glucose and VCAM-1 concentrations and attenuated first-phase insulin release.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Left Ventricular Diastolic Function during the Normal Peripartum Period

Background:Because cardiovascular function and hemodynamics markedly change during pregnancy, our aim was to elucidate left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in pregnant women. Methods and Results:We prospectively collected the data of 397 pregnant women treated between 2012 and 2013. We evaluated their LV systolic and diastolic functions via echocardiography during the 3rd trimester (28–30 weeks’ gestation) and within 4 days of delivery. Additionally, we analyzed the cardiac geometry: relative wall thickness and LV mass index (LVMI). Diastolic dysfunction was defined as early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (e’) 15. The pregnant women were 33.7±5.0 years old and the prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) was 4.0%. LV systolic function was preserved in all pregnant women. However, diastolic function significantly decreased after delivery (mean e’: 12.6 vs. 11.6 cm/s, P<0.0001; median E/e’ ratio: 6.4 vs. 7.3, P<0.0001). Diastolic function after delivery was associated with the prevalence of HDP (P=0.035) and was correlated with age (R=−0.17, P=0.0009) and LVMI (R=−0.30, P<0.0001). However, these changes in diastolic function remained within the normal range and only 1 woman (1/397, 0.3%) had LV diastolic dysfunction after delivery. Conclusions:LV diastolic function decreased after delivery in pregnant women but was within the normal range

Factors associated with increased levels of brain natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin I during the peripartum period.

BACKGROUND:We aimed to investigate the values and the changes of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin in pregnant women. METHODS AND RESULTS:We prospectively collected the data of 405 pregnant women who were treated at Japanese general hospital between 2012 and 2013. We analyzed their laboratory data and echocardiographic findings during the third trimester (28-30 weeks' gestation) and within 4 days of delivery. In addition, we evaluated the factors associated with elevation of BNP and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels. The pregnant women were 33.8 ± 5.0 years old and the prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and placental abnormality was 4.2% and 2.5%, respectively. BNP levels increased after delivery (13.2 pg/mL vs. 23.5 pg/mL; P <0.001), correlated with increased left ventricular diastolic dimension (P = 0.035), left atrial dimension (P <0.001), and decreased hemoglobin (P <0.001). Moreover, cTnI levels increased to over 0.015 ng/mL after delivery in 4.0% of pregnant women. In multivariate analysis, PIH (OR: 18.71, P = 0.003), placental abnormality (OR: 26.78, P = 0.007), and decreased hemoglobin after delivery (OR: 2.59, P <0.001) were the factors associated with elevated cTnI. CONCLUSIONS:BNP levels increased in association with cardiac chamber enlargement and decreased hemoglobin after delivery. Additionally, the factors affecting elevated cTnI levels were related to labor and delivery

Effects of Acute Endurance Exercise Performed in the Morning and Evening on Inflammatory Cytokine and Metabolic Hormone Responses.

To compare the effects of endurance exercise performed in the morning and evening on inflammatory cytokine responses in young men.Fourteen healthy male participants aged 24.3 ± 0.8 years (mean ± standard error) performed endurance exercise in the morning (0900-1000 h) on one day and then in the evening (1700-1800 h) on another day with an interval of at least 1 week between each trial. In both the morning and evening trials, the participants walked for 60 minutes at approximately 60% of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) on a treadmill. Blood samples were collected to determine hormones and inflammatory cytokines at pre-exercise, immediately post exercise, and 2 h post exercise.Plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and adrenaline concentrations were significantly higher immediately after exercise in the evening trial than in the morning trial (P < 0.01, both). Serum free fatty acids concentrations were significantly higher in the evening trial than in the morning trial at 2 h after exercise (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the levels of IL-6 immediately post-exercise and free fatty acids 2 h post-exercise in the evening (r = 0.68, P < 0.01).These findings suggest that the effect of acute endurance exercise in the evening enhances the plasma IL-6 and adrenaline concentrations compared to that in the morning. In addition, IL-6 was involved in increasing free fatty acids, suggesting that the evening is more effective for exercise-induced lipolysis compared with the morning

The relationship between the free fatty acids and IL-6 during morning and evening of acute endurance exercise.

<p>Serum concentrations of free fatty acids (a) before (Pre), immediately after (Post), and 2 h after (Post 2 h) exercise. Data represent the mean ± standard error. *** <i>P</i> < 0.001, compared with values at pre-exercise. ^†<i>P</i> < 0.05, compared with values immediately after exercise. ^#<i>P</i> < 0.05, significant difference between the morning and evening values. The relationship between levels of interleukin-6 immediately post exercise and free fatty acids 2 h post exercise in the evening (r = 0.68, <i>P</i> < 0.01) (b).</p

Change in plasma cytokines and serum CRP in the morning and evening (N = 14).

<p>Value are mean ± SE, TNF-α, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-1β, Interleukin-1β; CRP, C-reactive protein.</p><p>^#<i>P</i> < 0.05 compared with level (Pre) in the Evening trial.</p><p>Change in plasma cytokines and serum CRP in the morning and evening (N = 14).</p