Meal fatty acid uptake in adipose tissue: gender effects in nonobese humans

We tested for gender differences in dietary fatty acid metabolism in 12 non obese men and 12 nonobese women using the meal fatty acid tracer/adipose ti ssue biopsy study design. In addition to determining body composition, meas urements of regional adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity, blood flow , and fat cell size were performed to place the meal fatty acid kinetic stu dies in perspective. Twenty-four hours after ingesting the test meal, the c oncentration of meal fatty acids was greater (P < 0.05) in abdominal subcut aneous than in thigh adipose tissue in both men (0.61 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.09 mg/g) and women (0.59 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.43 +/- 0.05) but was not differe nt between men and women. A greater percentage of dietary fat was stored in subcutaneous adipose tissue in women than in men (38 +/- 3 vs. 24 +/- 3%, respectively, P < 0.05), and a greater portion of meal fatty acid disposal was unaccounted for in men. Significant gender differences in regional adip ose tissue blood flow after meal ingestion were noted; the differences were in the direction that could support greater nutrient storage in lower body fat in women.