Combined effects of meal frequency and exercise on postprandial lipaemia

• Main Author: Mok, Alexander
• Other Authors: National Institute of Education
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Human anatomy and physiology; DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences; DRNTU::Science::Medicine
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61649
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

PURPOSE: This study examined 1-large or 2-smaller isocaloric meals, with and without exercise on postprandial lipaemia (PPL), a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. These findings can contribute to public health recommendations. METHODS: Nine young, healthy, sedentary Asian males underwent four 2-day trials: walking with 1-large meal (EX-1); Rest with 1-large meal (CON-1); Walking with 2-smaller meals (EX-2); Rest with 2-smaller meals (CON-2), in a randomized repeated measures design. Day-1 evenings consisted of the exercise or rest. On day-2 mornings, venous blood triacylglycerol concentrations were measured fasting and 7-hours postprandially, after consuming 1-large or 2-smaller high-fat meals (1.21 g fat, 0.62 g carbohydrate, 0.29 g protein and 14.5 kcal/kg/bodymass). We hypothesised PPL will be lowest with EX-2 < EX-1 < CON-2 < CON-1. RESULTS: Although there were no significant differences among trials (p = .119), the Incremental area under the TAG concentration-against-time curve for CON-2 (6.62 ± 4.96 mmol.7h.L-1), EX-1 (6.60 ± 4.04 mmol/7h.L) and EX-2 (6.14 ± 3.42 mmol/7h.L) were 26.9%, 27.1% and 32.1% lower respectively, than the CON-1 trial (9.05 ± 7.91 mmol/7h.L). (Data are mean ±SD). There were no significant differences in TAG response pattern among trials (trial × time interaction, p = .092). CONCLUSION: Overall data trends suggest that, with higher statistical power, increased meal frequency alone may lower PPL to a meaningful extent. There was negligible synergistic effect of exercise with meal frequency. Future laboratory efficacy and effectiveness studies using various meal compositions are required in different populations with different activity patterns. KEYWORDS: cardiovascular disease, postprandial lipaemia, triacylglycerol, exercise, meal frequency, diet