POSTPRANDIAL LEG AND SPLANCHNIC FATTY-ACID METABOLISM IN NONOBESE MENAND WOMEN

These studies were conducted to determine whether there are gender-spe cific regional differences in meal triglyceride fatty acid uptake. Sys temic and regional oleate ([H-3]oleate) kinetics were measured in nine nonobese men and eight nonobese women before and at the end of a 6-h meal, administered as small frequent feedings to achieve steady-state chylomicronemia. Chylomicron uptake in the splanchnic bed accounted fo r 71 +/- 15% of meal triglyceride disappear ance in men and 20 +/- 7% in women (P < 0.01), whereas leg chylomicron uptake could only account for 12 +/- 2 and 8 +/- 4% (P not significant in men vs. women) of mea l triglyceride disappearance. Meal ingestion suppressed (P < 0.05) sys temic and regional free fatty acid release in both men and women. Spla nchnic nonchylomicron triglyceride release and leg nonchylomicron trig lyceride uptake were not significantly different in men and women. In summary, the largest quantitative difference between men and women in fatty acid kinetics during meal ingestion is a substantially greater s planchnic uptake of meal triglyceride fatty acids in men. This could r epresent greater meal fatty acid storage in visceral adipose tissue.