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Prolonged Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Nuclear Factor-B Activation after a High-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Meal in the Obese

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, State University of New York at Buffalo and Kaleida Health, Buffalo, New York 14209

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Paresh Dandona, M.D., Ph.D., Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of WNY, 3 Gates Circle, Buffalo, New York 14209. E-mail: pdandona{at}kaleidahealth.org.

Background: Because obesity is associated with chronic oxidative and inflammatory stress, and high-fat, high-carbohydrate meals induce significant oxidative and inflammatory stress in normal subjects, we have now hypothesized that the intake of a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal would result in a greater and more prolonged oxidative and inflammatory stress in the obese than in normal subjects.

Methods: Ten normal-weight and eight obese subjects were given a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal after an overnight fast. Blood samples were collected at baseline and hourly following the meal for 3 h.

Results: Reactive oxygen species generation by mononuclear cells increased significantly by 2 h in both groups but continued to increase significantly at 3 h in the obese subjects, whereas in normal subjects it returned to baseline. Levels of p47^phox increased significantly (by 81 ± 26%) at 3 h in obese individuals (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant change in p47^phox in normal subjects. Nuclear factor-B DNA binding in mononuclear cells increased significantly (by 48 ± 58%, P < 0.036) at 2 h but not at 3 h in normal subjects, whereas in the obese, nuclear factor-B increased significantly at both 2 and 3 h (by 36 ± 57 and 42 ± 63%, respectively, P < 0.004). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations were significantly higher in the obese at baseline (580 ± 103.9 vs. 373 ± 30.03 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and increased to significantly greater concentrations after the meal than in the lean subjects.

Conclusions: High-fat, high-carbohydrate meals induced a significantly more prolonged and greater oxidative and inflammatory stress in the obese. This may contribute to the increased atherogenic risk in obesity.