The effect of low and moderate fat intakes on the postprandial lipaemic and hormonal responses in healthy volunteers

Present literature indicates that whereas an acute fat intake of 5 g does n ot elicit a postprandial triacylglycerolaemic response, 20 g of fat does. S ince 67 % of fat intake occasions involve fat doses of less than 20 g, the present study examined the effect of a relatively low-fat (LF) meal (0.2 g/ kg body weight; mean 14 g) on postprandial triacylglycerol (TAG) metabolism , compared with a high-fat (HF) meal (0.6 g/kg body weight; mean 43 g), a f at dose which is more typical of laboratory studies. Plasma- and chylomicro n-TAG concentrations increased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.001 ) following both meals, and the increase was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.02) greater after the HF meal. The postprandial areas under the curves and maximal postprandial TAG concentrations for plasma- and chylomic ron-TAG were significantly higher following the HF meal (P less than or equ al to 005). Postprandial plasma insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.001) after each meal, but the re was no difference between the two meals. These data show that modest amo unts of fat in a meal will elicit a measurable postprandial TAG response. S ince postprandial lipaemia affects the composition and concentration of the TAG- and cholesterol-rich lipoproteins, controlling dietary TAG supply may influence the metabolic fate of these lipoproteins.