Meal fatty acids have differential effects on postprandial blood pressure and biomarkers of endothelial function but not vascular reactivity in postmenopausal women in the Randomized Controlled Dietary Intervention and VAScular function (DIVAS)-2 Study

Background: Elevated postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations, impaired vascular function and hypertension are important independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women. However, the effects of meal fat composition on postprandial lipemia and vascular function in postmenopausal women are unknown. Objective: This study investigated the impact of sequential meals rich in saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs) or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on postprandial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD, primary outcome measure), vascular function and associated CVD risk biomarkers (secondary outcomes) in postmenopausal women. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over, postprandial study was conducted with 32 postmenopausal women (58 ± 1 years, BMI 25.9 ± 0.7 kg/m2). After fasting overnight, participants consumed high-fat meals at breakfast (0 min; 50 g fat, containing 33-36 g SFAs, MUFAs or n-6 PUFAs) and lunch (330 min; 30 g fat, containing 19-20 g SFAs, MUFAs or n-6 PUFAs), on separate occasions. Blood samples were collected before breakfast and regularly after the meals for 480 min, with specific time points selected for measuring vascular function and blood pressure. Results: Postprandial FMD, laser Doppler imaging and digital volume pulse responses were not different after consuming the test fats. The incremental AUC (IAUC) for diastolic blood pressure was lower (-0.5-fold) after the MUFA than SFA-rich meals (P=0.009), with a similar trend for systolic blood pressure (-0.4-fold; P=0.012). This corresponded with a lower IAUC (-6.4-fold) for the plasma nitrite response after the SFA than MUFA-rich meals (P=0.010). The soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) time course profile, AUC and IAUC were lower after the n-6 PUFA than SFA and MUFA-rich meals (P≤0.001). Lipids, glucose and markers of insulin sensitivity did not differ between the test fats. Conclusions: Our study revealed a differential impact of meal fat composition on blood pressure, plasma nitrite and sICAM-1, but no effect on postprandial FMD or lipemia in postmenopausal women

High prevalence of undernutrition and low dietary diversity in institutionalised elderly living in Sri Lanka

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial and not-for-profit sectors. The authors wish to thank the participants, administrators and caregivers of the homes for elders for their enthusiastic cooperation and also the Nutrition Research Team of the Department of Applied Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, for their valuable assistance during the course of the study. The authors also wish to thank Mr. S. Rahanan for coordination and the assistance given in data collection especially in Tamil speaking participants. K.M.R designed and managed the study, interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript. M.P.P.M contributed to the data collection, data analysis and coordination of the study. M.W, K.G.J and J.A.L assisted in data interpretation and critical revision of the manuscript. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest of any kind involved in this study or this publication. Ethical clearance for this study was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (ERC/13-037)

Impact of the apolipoprotein E (epsilon) genotype on cardiometabolic risk markers and responsiveness to acute and chronic dietary fat manipulation

Apolipoprotein (APO) E (ε) genotype is considered to play an important role in lipid responses to dietary fat manipulation but the impact on novel cardiometabolic risk markers is unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the relationship between the APOE genotype and cardiometabolic risk markers in response to acute and chronic dietary fat intakes. Associations with fasting (baseline) outcome measures (n = 218) were determined using data from the chronic DIVAS (n = 191/195 adults at moderate cardiovascular disease risk) and acute DIVAS-2 (n = 27/32 postmenopausal women) studies examining the effects of diets/meals varying in saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acid composition. Participants were retrospectively genotyped for APOE (rs429358, rs7412). For baseline cardiometabolic outcomes, E4 carriers had higher fasting total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C: HDL-C ratios, but lower C-reactive protein (CRP) than E3/E3 and E2 carriers (p ≤ 0.003). Digital volume pulse stiffness index was higher in E2 carriers than the E3/E3 group (p = 0.011). Following chronic dietary fat intake, the significant diet × genotype interaction was found for fasting triacylglycerol (p = 0.010), with indication of a differential responsiveness to MUFA intake between the E3/E3 and E4 carriers (p = 0.006). Test fat × genotype interactions were observed for the incremental area under the curve for the postprandial apolipoprotein B (apoB; p = 0.022) and digital volume pulse reflection index (DVP-RI; p = 0.030) responses after the MUFA-rich meals, with a reduction in E4 carriers and increase in the E3/E3 group for the apoB response, but an increase in E4 carriers and decrease in the E3/E3 group for the DVP-RI response. In conclusion, baseline associations between the APOE genotype and fasting lipids and CRP confirm previous findings, although a novel interaction with digital volume pulse arterial stiffness was observed in the fasted state and differential postprandial apoB and DVP-RI responses after the MUFA-rich meals. The reported differential impact of the APOE genotype on cardiometabolic markers in the acute and chronic state requires confirmation

Impact of meal fatty acid composition on postprandial lipaemia, vascular function and blood pressure in postmenopausal women

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in women globally, with aging associated with progressive endothelial dysfunction and increased CVD risk. Natural menopause is characterised by raised non-fasting triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations and impairment of vascular function compared with premenopausal women. However, the mechanisms underlying the increased CVD risk after women have transitioned through the menopause are unclear. Dietary fat is an important modifiable risk factor relating to both postprandial lipaemia and vascular reactivity. Meals rich in saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) are often associated with greater postprandial TAG responses compared with those containing n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), but studies comparing their effects on vascular function during the postprandial phase are limited, particularly in postmenopausal women. This review aimed to evaluate the acute effects of test meals rich in SFA, MUFA and n-6 PUFA on postprandial lipaemia, vascular reactivity and other CVD risk factors in postmenopausal women. The systematic literature search identified 778 publications. The impact of fat-rich meals on postprandial lipaemia was reported in seven relevant studies, of which meal fat composition was compared in one study described by three papers. An additional study determined the impact of a high fat meal on vascular reactivity. Although moderately consistent evidence suggests detrimental effects of high fat meals on postprandial lipaemia in postmenopausal (than premenopausal) women, there is insufficient evidence to establish the impact of meals of differing fat composition. Furthermore, there is no robust evidence to conclude the effect of meal fatty acids on vascular function or blood pressure. In conclusion, there is an urgent requirement for suitably powered robust randomised controlled trials to investigate the impact of meal fat composition on postprandial novel and established CVD risk markers in postmenopausal women, an understudied population at increased cardiometabolic risk

Early life predictors of preschool overweight and obesity : a case–control study in Sri Lanka

Background\ud Childhood obesity increases the risk of obesity in adulthood and is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Our aim was to assess the early life risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among preschool children. \ud \ud Methods\ud In this case–control study, from the 1087 preschool children measured, age, sex and ethnicity matched 71 cases and 71 controls were recruited. Cases and controls were defined according to the WHO 2006 growth standards. The birth and growth characteristics were extracted from the child health development records. Infant feeding practices and maternal factors were obtained from the mother. Rapid weight gain was defined as an increase in weight-for-age Z score (WHO standards) above 0.67 SD from birth to 2 years. The magnitude and significant difference in mean values of the variables associated with overweight and obesity were evaluated using logistic regressions and paired t-test, respectively. \ud \ud Results\ud Cases had significantly shorter duration (months) of breastfeeding (19.4, 24.6, p = 0.003), and smaller duration (months) of exclusive breastfeeding (3.7, 5.1, p = 0.001) compared to controls. Rapid weight gain (OR = 6.3, 95% CI = 2.04–19.49), first born status (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.17-10.91) and pre-pregnancy obesity (OR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.46-10.76) were positively associated with overweight and obesity. Breastfeeding more than 2 years (OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.06-0.57) was negatively associated with overweight and obesity. \ud \ud Conclusion\ud Rapid weight gain within first two years, first–born status and pre-pregnancy obesity of the mother contributed for preschool obesity. Our results suggest that intervention may be indicated earlier in infancy and during the toddler and preschool years to tackle the increasing prevalence of obesity

Glu298Asp (rs1799983) polymorphism influences postprandial vascular reactivity and the insulin response to meals of varying fat composition in postmenopausal women: findings from the randomized, controlled DIVAS-2 study

Background: Previous acute studies suggest the Glu298Asp polymorphism (rs1799983) may influence vascular reactivity in response to long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) intake. However, the effects of this genotype on postprandial vascular function following meals rich in saturated (SFA), n-6 PUFA and monounsaturated (MUFA) fats are unclear. Objective: This study determined the impact of the Glu298Asp polymorphism on changes in vascular function and cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in response to sequential meals of varying fat composition. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, acute study, 32 postmenopausal women (mean±SD age 58±5 y; BMI 25.9±4.1 kg/m2) consumed mixed meals (breakfast: 0 min, 50 g fat; lunch: 330 min, 30 g fat) containing SFA, n-6 PUFA or MUFA on 3 occasions. Blood samples for cardiometabolic disease risk markers and real-time measures of vascular reactivity (including flow-mediated dilatation (FMD, primary outcome)) were collected/performed before and regularly for 480 min after breakfast. Participants were retrospectively genotyped for the Glu298Asp (rs1799983) polymorphism. Data were analysed using linear mixed models. Results: For the postprandial %FMD response, a test fat x genotype interaction was observed for the area under the curve (AUC; P=0.019) but not incremental AUC, with the AUC being ~24% greater after MUFA than SFA and n-6 PUFA-rich meals in the Glu298 homozygotes (P≤0.026). Test fat x genotype interactions were also evident for postprandial insulin (P≤0.005), with the MUFA-rich meals demonstrating significantly higher AUC (12.8%/14.9%), incremental AUC (14.6%/20.0%) and maximum concentration (20.0%/34.5%) versus the SFA and n-6 PUFA-rich meals (respectively) in Asp298 carriers (P<0.05). Genotype did not influence other study outcome measures in response to the test fats. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the Glu298Asp polymorphism may represent a potential determinant of the inter-individual variability in postprandial responsiveness of %FMD and insulin to acute meal fat composition in postmenopausal women. Further studies are required to confirm these observations

Introducing Defects into Metal-Seamed Nanocapsules Using Mixed Macrocycles

The synthesis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of a dimeric zinc-seamed nanocapsule using a mixed pyrogallol/resorcinol[4]­arene are presented. The use of “mixed” macrocycles results in an incomplete seam of coordination bonds around the nanocapsule’s typically octa-metalated belt. The self-assembly of the nanocapsule occurs such that the single resorcinol moiety of each macrocycle aligns transversely. This yields a hepta-metalated capsule where the defect occurs in such a way as to provide minimal disruption to the overall structure of the nanocapsule