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Pilot Study on the Effects of Saturated Fatty Acids on Insulin Resistance, Endothelial Dysfunction and Systemic Inflammation

Snapshot

Pilot Study of the Effects of Saturated Fatty Acids on Insulin Resistance, Endothelial Dysfunction and Systemic Inflammation: The goal of this proposed pilot study is to elucidate the role of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) in inducing insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Although there are extensive reports on the ability of high-fat feeding to induce insulin resistance and inflammation in animal models, and cross-sectional associations of nutritional excess and insulin resistance and inflammation in humans, there are few data showing that high saturated fat diets directly induce these events in humans. The specific aims of this pilot study are to determine the effects of consumption of a 24-hour diet enriched in SFA on 1) insulin resistance; 2) markers of systemic and vascular cell inflammation; and, 3) endothelial dysfunction. If we can demonstrate that this brief period of SFA feeding induces these metabolic changes, then this approach can be used to launch a series of investigations to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of SFA as well as to test modalities, such as omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, that may alleviate or prevent the detrimental effects of high intakes of SFA. Our previous studies have shown that high dose omega-3 intake leads to reduction of the inflammatory markers and improved insulin sensitivity.

Extended Description