Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Responses to High-Carbohydrate and High-Fat Meals in Healthy Humans

Abstract

The postprandial state is hypothesised to be proinflammatory and prooxidative, but the relative contributions of fat versus carbohydrate are unclear. Therefore, we examined inflammation and oxidative stress responses in serum and skeletal muscle before and after 1000 kcal meals, which were high in either fat or carbohydrate in 15 healthy individuals. Serum and muscle expression of IL6 was elevated 3 hours after each meal, independently of macronutrient composition (P < 0.01). Serum IL18 was decreased after high-fat meal only (P < 0.01). Plasma total antioxidative status and muscle Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase were decreased after high-carbohydrate meal only (P < 0.05). We conclude that a high-carbohydrate meal may evoke a greater postprandial oxidative stress response, whereas both fat and carbohydrate increased IL6. We speculate that the observed increases in postprandial IL6, without increases in any other markers of inflammation, may indicate a normal IL6 response to enhance glucose uptake, similar to its role postexercise.

Magnitude and Timing of the Postprandial Inflammatory Response to a High-Fat Meal in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

“…First, 2 studies in our analysis used repeated venipuncture for blood sampling and found significant postprandial increases in IL-6 (35,49). Second, one study (25) found both a significant increase in circulating IL-6 with the use of a forearm cannula and an increase in muscle expression of IL-6 with the use of a vastus lateralis biopsy, suggesting a systemic effect and not merely a local inflammatory response to the cannula. Collectively, these considerations suggest that at least some, if not all, of the IL-6 response to an HFM can be credited to the meal intake, instead of simply a local inflammatory response to cannulation.…”

Effects of Postmeal Walking on Postprandial Glucose Control and Oxidative Stress

“…Furthermore, plasma total antioxidant status and muscle SOD were decreased following the high-carbohydrate meal only. The authors concluded that a high-carbohydrate meal might evoke a greater postprandial oxidative stress response than a meal high in fat (Gregersen, 2012). Since oxidative stress is a precursor of inflammation, measures of inflammatory cytokines under hyperglycemic conditions also offer compelling evidence for their relationship.…”

“…Many studies have indicated an increased oxidative response following ingestion of a mixed meal; however, the meal is often high in fat and designed to measure plasma triglyceride levels and subsequent oxidative stress (Canale et al, 2014;Clegg et al, 2007;McClean et al, 2007;Melton et al, 2009). Nevertheless, both hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in the postprandial period are known to induce oxidative stress (Gergersen et al, 2012), and high glycemic meals have resulted in a rise of oxidative products in healthy (Ceriello et al, 1999;Gregersen et al, 2012;Kasuya et al, 2015) and diabetic (Ceriello et al, 1998) subjects. A study by Gregersen et al (2012) assessed the relative contributions of fat versus carbohydrate intake on the postprandial oxidative stress response in serum and skeletal muscle in a group of 15 healthy individuals.…”

“…Nevertheless, both hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in the postprandial period are known to induce oxidative stress (Gergersen et al, 2012), and high glycemic meals have resulted in a rise of oxidative products in healthy (Ceriello et al, 1999;Gregersen et al, 2012;Kasuya et al, 2015) and diabetic (Ceriello et al, 1998) subjects. A study by Gregersen et al (2012) assessed the relative contributions of fat versus carbohydrate intake on the postprandial oxidative stress response in serum and skeletal muscle in a group of 15 healthy individuals. Subjects consumed either a high-fat meal or a high-carbohydrate meal on two separate occasions.…”

“…The authors reported an elevation in serum and muscle expression of IL-6 following both meals. Furthermore, plasma total antioxidant status and muscle SOD were decreased following the high-carbohydrate meal only, suggesting that a high-carbohydrate meal might evoke a greater postprandial oxidative stress response than a meal high in fat (Gregersen, 2012). Additionally, a study by Ceriello et al (1999) evaluated the effects of two different meals designed to induce different levels of hyperglycemia on plasma oxidative status in a group of 10 individuals with T2D.…”