Fat Quality and Postprandial Inflammation

A randomized crossover single meal study will be conducted, comparing four isocaloric meals. The study will be carried out at two sites; one study center is located in Gothenburg, Sweden (Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Gothenburg) and one study center in Oslo, Norway (Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo).

A total of 20 healthy adults will be recruited and consume four meals, identical except for the fat source, in random order and sampled for blood and urine for up to 6 hours after. Each of the four meals will be separated by a 1 month washout. Subjects will be asked to abstain from rigorous physical activity, alcohol and high-fat foods the day prior to their test meal days.

Four isocaloric high-fat meals with different fatty acid profiles will be compared:

• butter
• coconut oil
• corn oil
• flax seed oil

At test meal days, study outcomes will be assessed at baseline (0h, fasting, pre meal), 30 min, 1h, 2h, 4h and at 6h (endpoint). At these timepoints, blood pressure will be measured and blood glucose sampled through capillary blood. At baseline, 2h, 4h and 6h, blood will be drawn by venipuncture. Urine will be collected when the participants need to void.

Blood will be collected and handled according to a standardized protocol to prevent any degradation, before stored in -80°C until analysis. At baseline and endpoint, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from blood samples will be isolated using cell preparation tubes and stored at -80 °C until RNA isolation. Lipids, lipoprotein profile and inflammation markers (e.g. cytokines, chemokines, endothelial factors) will be analyzed in samples from 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours.

Differences between meals in the outcomes will be compared using area under the curve and mixed models effect.

Inclusion criteria

• BMI >18.5
• Willingness to eat study meals

Exclusion criteria

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer
• Dyslipidemia
• Anemia (Hb <100)
• Habitual intake of anti-inflammatory drugs
• Recent weight change (>±5%)
• Pregnancy, lactation
• Current smoking