Postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoprotein changes in elderly and young subjects

Age-Related Sex Differences in Glucose Tolerance by 75 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Japanese

To elucidate the age-related sex difference in glucose tolerance, we conducted 75 g oral glucose tolerance tests in 1156 participants. Participants were divided into four groups, namely, young (22−29) males, young females, middle-aged (>50) males, and middle-aged females. According to the Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes 2019, the prevalence of normal glucose tolerance (NGT) was significantly lower in middle-aged than in young participants. The prevalence of high-normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was higher, and NGT was lower in young males (high-normal FPG 15.2%, NGT 82.0%) than young females (high-FPG 3.9%, NGT 94.3%). Combined glucose intolerance (CGI) was higher and NGT was lower in middle-aged males (CGI 10.2%, NGT 25.2%) than in middle-aged females (CGI 3.3%, NGT 39.8%). FPG and body mass index (BMI) were the lowest and Homeostatic model assessment beta cell function (HOMA-β) was the highest in young females, followed by young males, middle-aged females, and middle-aged males. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI weakly correlated with HOMA-β and Matsuda index in all subjects except young females. The superior glucose tolerance in females was apparent in young, but attenuated in middle-aged females. The differences are due to the higher insulin secretion potential and lower BMI in young females.

Postprandial Metabolism and Vascular Function: Impact of Aging and Physical Activity Level

The consumption of a high-fat meal can induce postprandial lipemia and endothelial dysfunction. The authors assessed the impact of age and physical activity on metabolic and vascular outcomes following meal consumption in healthy adults. The authors recruited four groups: younger active (age 22.1 ± 1.4 years; n = 9), younger inactive (age 22.6 ± 3.7 years; n = 8), older active (age 68.4 ± 7.7 years; n = 8), and older inactive (age 67.7 ± 7.2 years; n = 7). The metabolic outcomes were measured at the baseline and hourly for 6 hr post high-fat meal consumption (12 kcal/kg; 63% fat). Flow-mediated dilation was measured at the baseline, 2 hr, and 4 hr postmeal. The total area under the curve for triglycerides was significantly lower in the more active groups, but did not differ based on age (younger active = 6.5 ± 1.4 mmol/L × 6 hr, younger inactive = 11.7 ± 4.8, older active = 6.8 ± 2.7, older inactive = 12.1 ± 1.7; p = .0004). After adjusting for artery diameter, flow-mediated dilation differed between groups at the baseline (younger active = 4.8 ± 1.6%, younger inactive = 2.5 ± 0.5, older active = 3.4 ± 0.9, older inactive = 2.2 ± 0.4; p < .001) and decreased significantly across groups 4 hr postmeal (mean difference = 0.82; 95% CI [0.02, 1.6]; p = .04). These findings highlight the beneficial effect of regular physical activity on postprandial lipemia, independent of age.

Aging and plasma triglyceride metabolism

The risk for metabolic disease, including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and diabetes, increases with age. Altered plasma TG metabolism and changes in fatty acid partitioning are also major contributors to metabolic disease. Plasma TG metabolism itself is altered by age in humans and rodents. As discussed in this review, the age-induced changes in human TG metabolism include increased plasma TG levels, reduced postprandial plasma TG clearance rates, reduced postheparin LPL activity, decreased adipose tissue lipolysis, and elevated ectopic fat deposition, all of which could potentially contribute to age-associated metabolic diseases. Similar observations have been made in aged rats. We highlight the limitations of currently available data and propose that mechanistic studies are needed to understand the extent to which age-induced alterations in TG metabolism contribute to metabolic disease. Such mechanistic insights could aid in therapeutic strategies for preventing or managing metabolic disease in older individuals.

Removal of Chylomicron Remnants from the Bloodstream is Delayed in Aged Subjects

Dietary fats absorbed in the intestine are transported in the circulation as chylomicrons and remnants that have atherogenic potential. Although postprandial lipidemia is increased in older subjects, the specific chylomicron metabolism has not been explored in older subjects nor compared to young subjects, which is the focus of this study. After a 12 h fast, artificially-made emulsions similar to lymph chylomicrons and doubly labeled with radioactive cholesteryl esters and triglycerides were intravenously injected in 23 older (66±4 years) and 20 young (24±3 years) subjects. Sequential blood samples were collected to determine fractional clearance rates (FCR, in min^-1) by compartmental analysis. Older subjects had higher LDL-cholesterol (p<0.001) and triglycerides (p<0.0001) than young subjects; HDL-cholesterol presented no difference. The emulsion cholesteryl-ester FCR was lower in older subjects compared to the young (p=0.0001). The emulsion triglyceride FCR did not differ in the two groups. Tested in vitro, however, the lipolysis of the emulsion triglycerides was less intense in the older than in the young subjects. As delayed removal of remnants, indicated by the pronouncedly smaller cholesteryl ester FCR, is related to the presence of cardiovascular diseases, this can be a risk factor which could accelerate atherogenic complications occurring in aged subjects

Gene Expression, Oxidative Stress, and Senescence of Primary Coronary Endothelial Cells Exposed to Postprandial Serum of Healthy Adult and Elderly Volunteers after Oven-Cooked Meat Meals

Epidemiological studies have linked high consumption of meat with major age-related diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Abnormal postprandial increases in plasma lipids after a meat meal have been hypothesized among the pathogenetic mechanisms. However, it is still unknown if the postprandial serum derived after a normal meat meal is able to affect endothelial function, and if the type of meat and the age of the donors are critical factors. Here, we show the effects of postprandial sera derived from healthy adults and elderly volunteers who consumed meat meals on human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) oxidative stress, gene expression, DNA damage, and cellular senescence. We observed that a single exposure to postprandial serum induces a slight increase in ROS that is associated with modulation of gene expression pathways related to oxidative stress response and metabolism. The postprandial-induced increase in ROS is not associated with a measurable DNA oxidative damage. However, repeated exposure to postprandial serum induces an acceleration of cellular senescence. Taking into account the deleterious role of cellular senescence in age-related vascular diseases, the results suggest a new mechanism by which excessive meat consumption and time spent in postprandial state may affect health status during aging.

Postprandial Metabolic Responses Differ by Age Group and Physical Activity Level

OBJECTIVES

To compare the postprandial metabolic responses to a high-fat meal in healthy adults who differ by age and physical activity level.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, quasi-experimental design.

SETTING

Physical Activity and Nutrition Clinical Research Consortium (PAN-CRC) at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS, USA).

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two healthy adults: 8 younger active (YA) adults (4M/4W; 25 ± 5 yr), 8 older active (OA) adults (4M/4W; 67 ± 5 yr), and 6 older inactive (OI) adults (3M/3W; 68 ± 7 yr).

INTERVENTION

Following an overnight (10-hour) fast and having abstained from exercise for 2 days, participants consumed a high-fat meal (63% fat, 34% CHO; 12 kcal/kg body mass; 927 ± 154 kcal). To assess the metabolic response, blood draws were performed at baseline and each hour following the meal for 6 hours.

MEASUREMENTS

Fasting and postprandial triglycerides (TG), glucose, Total-C, and HDL-C were measured. Metabolic load index (MLI) and LDL-C were calculated.

RESULTS

There were significant group x time interactions for TG (p < 0.0001) and MLI (p = 0.004). The TG total area-under-the-curve (tAUC) response was significantly lower in YA (407.9 ± 115.1 mg/dL 6 hr) compared to OA (625.6 ± 169.0 mg/dL 6 hr; p = 0.02) and OI (961.2 ± 363.6 mg/dL 6 hr; p = 0.0002), while the OA group TG tAUC was lower than the OI group (p = 0.02). The TG peak was significantly lower in YA (90.5 ± 27.0 mg/dL) than OA (144.0 ± 42.2 mg/dL; p = 0.03) and OI (228.2 ± 96.1 mg/dL; p = 0.0003), and was lower in the OA group compared to the OI group (p = 0.03). Glucose was significantly lower 1 hour after the meal in YA (89.4 ± 10.1 mg/dL; p = 0.01) and OA (87.3 ± 22.3 mg/dL; p = 0.005) versus OI (110.7 ± 26.9 mg/dL). MLI tAUC was significantly lower in YA (936.8 ± 137.7 mg/dL 6 hr; p = 0.0007) and OA (1133.0 ± 207.4 mg/dL; p = 0.01) versus OI (1553.8 ± 394.3 mg/dL), with no difference (p = 0.14) between YA and OA groups. Total-C and LDL-C were generally lower in younger compared to older participants at baseline and throughout the postprandial period, while no group or time effects were evident in HDL-C.

CONCLUSION

Both physical activity status and aging appear to affect the postprandial metabolic, namely TG, response to a high-fat meal. These findings point to an inherently diminished metabolic capacity with aging, but suggest that physical activity may help minimize this decrement.

Digestion and Postprandial Metabolism in the Elderly

The elderly are an increasing segment of the population. Despite the rapid gains in medical knowledge and treatments, older adults are more likely to experience chronic illnesses that decrease quality of life and accelerate mortality. Nutrition is a key modifiable lifestyle factor which greatly impacts chronic disease risk. Yet despite the importance of nutrition, relatively little is known of the impact of advancing age on the gastrointestinal function, the digestive responses, and the post-meal metabolic adaptations that occur in response to ingested food. Knowledge of the age-related differences in digestion and metabolism in the elderly is essential to the development of appropriate nutritional recommendations for the maintenance of optimal health and prevention of disease.

Clinical considerations and mechanistic determinants of postprandial lipemia in older adults

The typical diet of individuals in Western societies results in metabolic responses associated with fed-state fat metabolism for most of the daily life of the individual. This fat metabolism is characterized specifically by an increase in the concentration of plasma lipids, primarily triglycerides. Increased postprandial lipemia, which is typically observed in older individuals (i.e., >65 y old), has now emerged as an important correlate of cardiovascular disease risk. An understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the increased postprandial lipemia in older individuals becomes, therefore, of particular clinical importance in any effort to explain and address the well-documented increase in cardiovascular disease risk as individuals age. Current evidence points to an increase in the accumulation of ingested lipid in lipoprotein particles of hepatic origin, together with an overall accumulation of lipid in these lipoproteins during the postprandial period, as primary contributors to the postprandial lipemia in older persons. When this evidence is considered together with the evidence suggesting large atherogenic potential of lipoproteins of hepatic origin, this can, at least in part, explain the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in older individuals. Understanding changes in the metabolism of ingested fat in the immediate postprandial period with advancing age, and how lifestyle interventions such as diet and physical exercise can ameliorate the increase in postprandial lipemia in older individuals, is important in order to address the increased cardiovascular disease risk in this particularly affected and growing segment of the population.

Increased plasma availability of L-arginine in the postprandial period decreases the postprandial lipemia in older adults

OBJECTIVE

Older adults have exaggerated postprandial lipemia, which increases their risk for cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine the effects of increased plasma L-arginine (L-ARG) availability on the oxidation of ingested fat (enriched with [1,1,1-(13)C]-triolein) and plasma triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations during the postprandial period in older subjects.

METHODS

On one day, eight healthy subjects (67.8 ± 1.3 y old) received an intravenous infusion of L-ARG during the first hour of the postprandial period (L-ARG trial), while on a separate day, and in a randomized order, they received saline (control trial).

RESULTS

The 8-h area under the plasma concentration-time curve describing the postprandial plasma TG concentrations was considerably lower in the L-ARG trial than in the control trial (-4 ± 21 versus 104 ± 21 mg ∙ dL(-1) ∙ h(-1), P < 0.01). The rate of the postprandial oxidation of the ingested lipid was not different between the trials, but the average contribution of the ingested oleate to the oleate of the TG of the plasma small TG-rich lipoproteins (Svedberg flotation index 20-400) was lower in the L-ARG trial (11 ± 1 versus 18 ± 2%, P < 0.01). L-ARG infusion also decreased the 8-h area under the plasma concentration-time curve of the plasma free fatty acid concentrations derived from the ingested fat compared with the saline infusion (0.77 ± 0.09 versus 1.11 ± 0.08; mmol ∙ L(-1) ∙ h(-1), P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Increasing the plasma L-ARG availability during the postprandial period decreases the postprandial lipemia in older adults, in association with a decrease in the postprandial contribution of ingested lipids into TGs of the plasma small TG-rich lipoproteins.

Postprandial lipemia in the elderly involves increased incorporation of ingested fat in plasma free fatty acids and small (Sf 20-400) triglyceride-rich lipoproteins

In the elderly, the rise in postprandial plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations is increased, contributing to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine the incorporation of ingested fat (whipping cream enriched with [1,1,1-(13)C]triolein) into plasma lipids during the postprandial period in six healthy elderly (67 ± 1 yr old) and six healthy young (23 ± 2 yr old) subjects. Blood and expired air samples were taken before and at 2-h intervals during the 8-h postprandial period. As expected, the area under the curve of postprandial plasma TG concentrations was larger in the elderly compared with the young subjects (152 ± 38 vs. 66 ± 27 mg·dl(-1)·h, P < 0.05). The incorporation of [(13)C]oleate in plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) and TG of the small (S(f) = 20-400) triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fraction was significantly higher in the elderly compared with the young subjects, resulting in increased postprandial contributions of the ingested lipid to plasma FFAs (41 ± 3 vs. 26 ± 6%, P < 0.05) and the small TRL fraction (36 ± 5 vs. 21 ± 3%, P < 0.05) in elderly. Plasma apoB-100 concentration was higher, whereas the rate of oxidation of the ingested lipid was lower (P < 0.05) in the elderly. We conclude that increased postprandial lipemia in the elderly involves increased contribution of ingested lipid to the plasma small TRLs. This appears to be driven at least in part by increased appearance of the ingested fat as plasma FFA and increased availability of apo B-100 lipoproteins in the elderly.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)--a novel common aspect of the metabolic syndrome

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as one of the most common liver disorders claiming the urgent attention of both medical professionals and the public sphere because of the imminent epidemic of advanced liver injury that appendages epidemic of obesity. Recent research reveals simple triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes (i.e., liver steatosis) frequently becoming complicated by inflammation (i.e., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH) that may progress into more advanced stages of the disease including cirrhosis or, eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma. The exact mechanisms of the progression of NAFLD into overt NASH and advanced disease stages are largely unknown. There is urgent need in terms of both intensive research pursuits and effective practical measures to deal with this common threat.

A standardized triglyceride and carbohydrate challenge: the oral triglyceride tolerance test

OBJECTIVE

A standardized method of assessing postprandial triglyceride changes is not available. We evaluated an oral triglyceride tolerance test (OTTT) designed for routine clinical and research use.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A 200-ml strawberry-flavored test drink (50 g fat, 50 g carbohydrate) was administered twice to 30 diabetic and 20 nondiabetic subjects. Venous plasma triglyceride and glucose levels were measured when fasting and every 2 h for 8 h after the drink. Fingerprick plasma triglyceride levels were measured when fasting and at 6 and 8 h after the drink.

RESULTS

The drink was consumed within 3 min and well tolerated by all subjects. The median triglyceride rise at 6 h was similar in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects (0.23 vs. 0.42 mmol/l, NS) and correlated with glucose increase at 2 h (r = 0.429, P = 0.018 and r = 0.509, P = 0.026; respectively). Diabetic subjects had higher 6-h geometric mean (1 SD range) triglyceride levels (1.82 [1.87 to 3.23] vs. 1.11 [0.66 to 1.11 mmol/l], P < 0.003) but a similar coefficient of variation (17.5 vs. 17.0%, NS) and a similar median (interquartile range) time to achieve maximal concentration (T(max)) (6.0 [4.0 to 6.0] vs. 5.0 [4.0 to 6.0] h, NS). Capillary triglyceride values were equivalent to simultaneous venous samples but consistently 10% greater.

CONCLUSIONS

The OTTT permits simple evaluation of postchallenge triglyceride levels, is acceptable to subjects, and can be performed with capillary sampling. It could be used to monitor triglyceride-lowering therapies and to provide additional information concerning cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in diabetic subjects.

Hepatic pseudocapillarisation and atherosclerosis in ageing

Cardiovascular disease secondary to atherosclerosis is the main cause of death and disability in industrialised countries, and ageing is the foremost risk factor for atherosclerosis. We present a hypothesis linking age-specific structural change in the liver with accepted pathogenic mechanisms leading to atherosclerosis. Ageing in the liver is associated with pseudocapillarisation of the sinusoidal endothelium, which is characterised by thickening of endothelium, basement membrane formation, and defenestration (loss of pores). Fenestrations (pores) normally form a liver sieve that allows passage of chylomicron remnants for subsequent uptake and metabolism by hepatocytes. Ageing is associated with impaired clearance of chylomicron remnants, postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, and hence, atherosclerosis, which we propose is linked directly to loss of permeability of the liver sieve because of defenestration associated with pseudocapillarisation. Development of methods to maintain fenestrations of sinusoidal endothelium or to facilitate refenestration might be a new therapeutic strategy for management of cardiovascular disease in old people.

Abdominal obesity

The application of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography to obesity research has changed the focus from body mass and skinfold thickness to abdominal fat mass and visceral adiposity. Intra-abdominal fat constitutes less than 20% of total body fat but is a major determinant of fasting and postprandial lipid availability because of its physiological (lipolytic rate and insulin resistance) and anatomical (portal drainage) properties. High levels of serum free fatty acids, as a result of abdominal obesity, cause excessive tissue lipid accumulation and contribute to dyslipidaemia, beta cell dysfunction, and hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance. An individual's risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease relates closely to the inheritance of central obesity and susceptibility to tissue lipotoxicity.