Chronically gorging v. nibbling fat and cholesterol increases postprandiallipaemia and atheroma deposition in the New Zealand White rabbit

In the present study, we compared the effects of nibbling and gorging on po stprandial lipaemia and lipoproteins, hepatic lipid uptake and atheroma dep osition. New Zealand White rabbits were fed on a low-fat (LF) control diet or a peanut oil- (10 g/d) and cholesterol- (0.5 g/d) enriched (HF) diet wit h the fat and cholesterol components given either by nibbling (HF-N) or gor ging (HF-G). After 4 and 8 weeks, rabbits were given a test meal, which was either nibbled or taken as a bolus. The LF diet did not noticeably alter p ostprantial lipid variables. Triacylglycerol levels, 0-35 h lipid responses and plasma accumulation of dietary lipids were significantly higher in the HF-G group than in the HF-N group, despite higher post-heparin plasma lipa se activities. Furthermore, as studied on cultured isolated hepatocytes, th e higher the rate of supply of triacylglycerol- and cholesterol-rich lipopr oteins (TCRL), the lower the rate of lipid uptake and bile salt secretion. Atheroma deposition was significantly increased by gorging the HF diet and was correlated with levels of most postprandial lipid variables. We conclud e that gorging v. nibbling a fat and cholesterol-enriched diet exacerbates postprandial lipaemia by reducing the rate of TCRL clearance and favours at heroma deposition.