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High Fat Meal and Postprandial TG Levels With and Without Exercise Intervention

The Effect of Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Postprandial Plasma Triglyceride Levels Following a High Fat Meal

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05291767
Enrollment
7
Registered
2022-03-23
Start date
2022-03-28
Completion date
2022-11-01
Last updated
2023-01-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Exercise, Ketogenic Diet

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to investigate whether real-life bouts of MIE are effective at attenuating PPTL after a meal (either a keto-type brownie (KETO) or a high carb (CON) meal of pasta and sauce), compared to non-exercise control. The primary outcome of this study is the measured change in PPTL level from baseline (fasting) to 6 hours postprandial on each activity level. We hypothesize that MIE will decrease PPTL in comparison to rest. For our secondary outcomes, we expect greater decrease in blood pressure, blood glucose, and metabolic rates after the MIE exercise bouts. Finally, we expect that KETO will be rated as more satiating.

Detailed description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disease in the United States with an overall prevalence of about 48% in adults \>20 years of age. The Global Burden of Health assessment showed that CVD is largely attributed to dietary risks, followed by high systolic blood pressure (BP), high body mass index (BMI), high total cholesterol and fasting plasma triglycerides (TG), smoking, and inadequate physical activity. Increased plasma TG levels can promote atherosclerosis, atherosclerotic lesions, plaque formation, and heart attack. Consumption of high fat meals (HFM), which are very common in the American diet, likely increase postprandial triglyceride levels (PPTL), in proportion to the fat content of the meal. This is of particular concern because Americans, on average, have \ 6 eating occasions throughout the day, thus maintaining a postprandial state of chronically high PPTL. Additionally, a HFM has also been shown to negatively affect endothelial function, blood pressure, glycemic control, and resting metabolic rate. The decline in endothelial function is thought to be mediated by the oxidative stress caused by the elevated PPTL, which then contributes to proatherogenic state. Glycemic control was also found to be disrupted following consumption of a high fat meal likely due to a change in glucose absorption from the gut, glucose production in the liver, or glucose uptake from skeletal muscle. Conversely, blood pressure does not seem to be significantly affected by a high fat meal when measured up to 4 hours postprandial, although these findings are equivocal. Recent studies have elucidated a potential role of exercise in attenuating the postprandial lipemia response via several proposed mechanisms including exercise-induced increase in fat oxidation, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA expression) and LPL activity, reduced hepatic VLDL secretions, and the creation of an energy deficit. LPL is responsible for breaking TGs down into free fatty acids, thus improving TG clearance rates. Exercise has also been shown to attenuate the increase in blood pressure and blood glucose caused by the high fat meal. Previous studies have found that compared to a non-exercising control, moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) decreases PPTL by about 15.5% (p = 0.03) when performed prior to a HFM likely due to the increase in postprandial fat oxidation rate elicited by the exercise. Following exercise performed post-HFM, PPTL attenuation is believed to be due to a decrease in hepatic very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion, as studies have shown that hepatic VLDL concentrations decrease about 4.5 hours after exercising under post-absorptive conditions and circulating triglyceride (TG) levels of VLDL decrease by 30%. With the decrease in TG secretion, there is an increase in LPL activity that consequently increases TG clearance. Thus, as time between exercise bout and HFM consumption increases, LPL becomes an ever-increasingly important factor that further improves PPTL clearance. However, many studies have only investigated the effects of exercise prior to HFM consumption. Furthermore, many of these studies rely on exaggerated fat intake or energy expenditure in excess of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. While there is one study that measured effects of exercise following a HFM, only moderate intensity (60% VO2peak) was used, and endothelial function was measured up to 4 hours postprandial the test meal and 2 hours following the exercise. However, the PPTL attenuation depends on the type of exercise, energy expenditure, intensity, energy balance, and timing relative to the HFM. Moderate intensity exercise (MIE), which is categorized as 65-75% of maximal heart rate, leads to an increase in glucose oxidation rates, which can potentially lead to a greater increase in fat oxidation in comparison to rest (no exercise) after a meal. While activity guidelines recommend engaging in either moderate or high intensity exercise, it remains unclear whether MIE changes PPTL differently after an HFM. The objective of this study is to investigate whether real-life bouts of MIE are effective at attenuating PPTL after a meal (either a keto-type brownie (KETO) or a high carb (CON) meal of pasta and sauce), compared to non-exercise control. The primary outcome of this study is the measured change in PPTL level from baseline (fasting) to 6 hours postprandial on each activity level. We hypothesize that MIE will decrease PPTL in comparison to rest. For our secondary outcomes, we expect greater decrease in blood pressure, blood glucose, and metabolic rates after the MIE exercise bouts. Finally, we expect that KETO will be rated as more satiating. This is a repeated measures cross-over design, in which all subjects will undergo rest (control) and two exercise protocols. The order of the exercise will be randomized using a traditional coin flip where each combination of flips results in a what meal/ exercise type the subject would be participating in that day. We will have an independent individual (not involved in the study) perform the study randomization and maintain the allocation schedule. Due to the nature of the exercise, blinding participants to the exercise intensity is not possible.

Interventions

OTHERDiet

participants will consume a high fat (intervention) or high carbohydrate (control) meal.

BEHAVIORALExercise

participants will exercise with medium intensity under supervision for 30 minutes (intervention) or rest (control) after consuming the meal.

Sponsors

University of Virginia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female * 18-45 years old

Exclusion criteria

* Food allergies (dairy, nuts, food dyes) * Orthopedic or musculoskeletal contraindications to exercise * Known cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease * Metal implants that may interfere with bioelectrical impedance analysis * Answers yes to one or more questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Current smoker * Blood pressure of 130/80 or higher * Meets or exceeds American College of Sports Medicine guidelines of engaging in 150min/wk of moderate intensity exercise or 75min/wk vigorous intensity exercise Unwilling or unable to follow all aspects of the study protocol * Female participants will have to confirm that they have a normal menstrual cycle (10-12 periods per year). If yes, they are only to participate during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (i.e., the week following the first day of menses).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Blood triglyceride levels as indicated by fasting triglyceridesBaselineThe participant's hand will be turned upward and massaged to increase blood flow. After sanitizing, their index finger will be held in an upward position, and the lancet is placed firmly into the fingertip. The first drop of blood will be discarded. The next drop of blood, from the same fingerstick, will be placed in the device to read triglyceride levels.
Total Blood triglyceride levels as indicated by postprandial triglycerides2 hours postprandialThe participant's hand will be turned upward and massaged to increase blood flow. After sanitizing, their index finger will be held in an upward position, and the lancet is placed firmly into the fingertip. The first drop of blood will be discarded. The next drop of blood, from the same fingerstick, will be placed in the device to read triglyceride levels.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Systolic and diastolic Blood pressureBaseline to 6 hours postprandial in 15 minute incrementsA Bluetooth blood pressure cuff will also be given to the participant that they will wear continuously throughout the visit; data from the device will be taken at the end of the visit for 15-minute intervals.
Finger prick blood sample for blood glucose level as indicated by postprandial blood glucose2 hours postprandialBlood glucose will be measured using the device for finger prick blood sampling after arriving in the lab and hourly after consuming the meal.
Indirect Calorimetry: Respiratory Exchange RatioBaselineParticipant will lay at rest for 15 minutes prior to starting the test. A metabolic mask will then be placed over their mouth to analyze their oxygen and carbon dioxide usage to estimate their resting metabolic rate and respiratory exchange ratio. This will take about 30 minutes.
Indirect Calorimetry: Resting Metabolic RateBaselineParticipant will lay at rest for 15 minutes prior to starting the test. A metabolic mask will then be placed over their mouth to analyze their oxygen and carbon dioxide usage to estimate their resting metabolic rate and respiratory exchange ratio. This will take about 30 minutes.
Blood glucose level as indicated by fasting blood glucoseBaselineBlood glucose will be measured using the device for finger prick blood sampling after arriving in the lab and hourly after consuming the meal.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026