This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van der Meer, R. W. Articles by Smit, J. W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van der Meer, R. W. Articles by Smit, J. W. A. Related Collections Lipid Cardiovascular Endocrinology Metabolism

Effects of Short-Term High-Fat, High-Energy Diet on Hepatic and Myocardial Triglyceride Content in Healthy Men

Departments of Radiology (R.W.v.d.M., H.J.L., A.d.R.), of Endocrinology (S.H., J.A.R., J.W.A.S.), and of Clinical Chemistry (M.F.), Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; and Department of Endocrinology (M.D., L.J.R.), Vrije Universiteit University Medical Center, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: R. W. van der Meer, M.D., Department of Radiology, C2S, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: R.W.van_der_meer{at}lumc.nl.

Context: An association has been suggested between elevated plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels, myocardial triglyceride (TG) accumulation, and myocardial function.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effects of an elevation of plasma NEFA by a high-fat, high-energy (HFHE) diet on hepatic and myocardial TG accumulation, and on myocardial function.

Design: There were 15 healthy males (mean ± SD age: 25.0 ± 6.6 yr) subjected to a 3-d HFHE diet consisting of their regular diet, supplemented with 800 ml cream (280 g fat) every day.

Methods: ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed for assessing hepatic and myocardial TGs. Furthermore, left ventricular function was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: The HFHE diet increased hepatic TGs compared with baseline (from 2.01 ± 1.79 to 4.26 ± 2.78%; P = 0.001) in parallel to plasma TGs and NEFA. Myocardial TGs did not change (0.38 ± 0.18 vs. 0.40 ± 0.12%; P = 0.7). The HFHE diet did not change myocardial systolic function. Diastolic function, assessed by dividing the maximum flow across the mitral valve of the early diastolic filling phase by the maximum flow of the atrial contraction (E/A ratio), decreased compared with baseline (from 2.11 ± 0.39 to 1.89 ± 0.33; P = 0.031). This difference was no longer significant after adjustment for heart rate (P = 0.12).

Conclusions: Short-term HFHE diet in healthy males results in major increases in plasma TG and NEFA concentrations and hepatic TGs, whereas it does not influence myocardial TGs or myocardial function. These observations indicate differential, tissue-specific partitioning of TGs and/or fatty acids among nonadipose organs during HFHE diet.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Bortolotti, R. Kreis, C. Debard, B. Cariou, D. Faeh, M. Chetiveaux, M. Ith, P. Vermathen, N. Stefanoni, K.-A. Le, et al. High protein intake reduces intrahepatocellular lipid deposition in humans Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2009; 90(4): 1002 - 1010. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]