Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Nutrient determinants of postprandial triglyceride response in a population-based sample of type II diabetic patients

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1168–1173 (2006) Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Nutrient determinants of postprandial triglyceride (TG) are matter of debate, especially for type II diabetes.

Objective:

This study was performed to evaluate the impact of dietary habits on postprandial TG response in a population-based sample of type II diabetic patients.

Design:

One-hundred and forty type II diabetic patients (63 men/77 women, age 45–70 years) referring to the same health district, not on hypolipidemic drugs and without any other chronic disease, performed four TG profiles (at fasting, before, 2 and 3 h after lunch) with a specific device (Accutrend GCT, Roche Diagnostics Mannheim, Germany) validated previously. Dietary habits were recorded by a dietitian utilizing a previously validated semiquantitative questionnaire.

Results:

Triglyceride values (mmol/l, mean±s.d.) were 2.22±0.93 at fasting, decreased before lunch (2.03±0.81), reached peak values 3 h after lunch (2.73±1.11). Postprandial TG increments (3 h after lunch minus pre-lunch concentration) significantly correlated with the intake (g/day) of animal protein (r=0.20, P<0.02), total fat (r=0.21, P<0.01), animal fat (r=0.19, P<0.03) and vegetable fat (r=0.19, P<0.03), also after adjusting for fasting TG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Expressing nutrient intake as percentage of total calorie intake, total and animal fat remained significantly and directly related to postprandial TG increment (r=0.21, P<0.01 for total fat; r=0.19, P<0.03 for animal fat) whereas the percentage of carbohydrates was inversely related (r=−0.23, P<0.007).

Conclusions:

Fat intake seems the major nutritional determinant of postprandial TG response in type II diabetic patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brynes AE, Mark Edwards C, Ghatei MA, Dornhorst A, Morgan LM, Bloom SR et al. (2003). A randomised four-intervention crossover study investigating the effect of carbohydrates on daytime profiles of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and triacylglycerols in middle-aged men. Br J Nutr 89, 207–218.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garg A (1998). High-monounsaturated fat diets for patients with diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 67, S577–S582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Breslow JL, Goldhaber SZ, Rosner B, VanDenburgh M et al. (1993). Moderate alcohol intake, increased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein and its subfractions, and decreased risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 329, 1829–1834.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geluk CA, Halkes CJM, De Jaegere PP, Plokker TW, Cabezas MC (2004). Daytime triglyceridemia in normocholesterolemic patients with premature atherosclerosis and in their first- degree relatives. Metabolism 53, 49–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Georgopoulos A, Banale JP, Noutsou M, Swaim WR, Parker SJ (1998). Differences in the metabolism of postprandial lipoproteins after a high-monounsatured-fat versus a high-carbohydrate diet in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 18, 773–782.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hellerstein MK (2002). Carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia: modifying factors and implications for cardiovascular risk. Curr Opin Lipidol 13, 33–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iovine C, Gentile A, Hattemer A, Pacioni D, Riccardi G, Rivellese AA (2004a). Self-monitoring of plasma triglyceride concentrations to evaluate postprandial response to different nutrients. Metabolism 53, 620–623.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iovine C, Vaccaro O, Gentile A, Romano G, Pisanti F, Riccardi G et al. (2004b). Post-prandial triglyceride profile in a population-based sample of t diabetic patients. Diabetologia 47, 19–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins D, Kendall C, Axelsen M, Augustin LS, Vuksan V (2000). Viscous and non-viscous fibres, nonabsorbable and low glycaemic index carbohydrates, blood lipids and coronary heart disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 11, 49–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn SE (2003). The relative contributions of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 46, 3–19.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazumi T, Vranic M, Steiner G (1986). Triglyceride kinetics: effects of dietary glucose, sucrose, or fructose alone or with hyperinsulinemia. Am J Physiol 250, 325–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsari C, Malkova D, Hardman AE (2000). Postprandial lipemia after short-term variation in dietary fat and carbohydrate. Metabolism 49, 1150–1155.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopes-Virella MF, Stone P, Ellis S, Colwell JA (1977). Cholesterol determination in high-density lipoproteins separated by three different methods. Clin Chem 23, 882–884.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luley C, Ronquist G, Reuter W, Paal V, Gottschling HD, Westphal S et al. (2000). Point-of-care-testing of triglycerides: evaluation of the Accutrend triglycerides system. Clin Chem 46, 287–291.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann J, Chisholm A (1999). Nutritional determinants of serum triglycerides. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 9, 1–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann JI, De Leeuw I, Hermansen K, Karamanos B, Karlström B, Katsilambros N et al. (2004). Evidence-based nutritional approaches to treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 14, 373–394.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mittendorfer B, Labros SS (2001). Mechanism for the increase in plasma triacylglycerol concentrations after consumption of short-term, high-carbohydrate diets. Am J Clin Nutr 73, 892–899.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panico S, Dello Iacovo R, Celentano E, Galasso R, Muti P, Salvatore M et al. (1992). Progetto ATENA, a study on the etiology of major chronic diseases in women: design, rationale and objectives. Eur J Epidemiol 8, 601–608.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parks E, Hellerstein M (2000). Effects of low-fat, high carbohydrate diets on serum lipids in humans: a review of the literature. Am J Clin Nutr 71, 412–433.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pieke B, von Eckardstein A, Gulbahce E, Chirazi A, Schulte H, Assmann G et al. (2000). Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia by two diets rich either in unsatured fatty acids or in carbohydrates: effects on lipoprotein subclasses, lipolytic enzymes, lipid transfer protein, insulin and leptin. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 24, 1286–1926.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riccardi G, Rivellese AA (1991). Effects of dietary fiber and carbohydrate on glucose and lipoprotein metabolism in diabetic patients. Diab Care 14, 1115–1125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riccardi G, Rivellese AA (2000). Dietary treatment of the metabolic sindrome – the optimal diet. Br J Nutr 83, S143–S148.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rivellese AA, De Natale C, Di Marino L, Patti L, Iovine C, Coppola S et al. (2004). Exogenous and endogenous postprandial lipid abnormalities in type 2 diabetic patients with optimal blood glucose control and optimal fasting triglyceride concentrations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89, 2153–2159.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saltin B, Grimby G (1968). Physiological analysis of midle-aged men and former athletes. Circulation 38, 1104–1110.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salvini S, Parpinel M, Gnagnarella P, Maisonneuve P, Turrini A (1998). Banca Dati di Composizione degli Alimenti per Studi Epidemiologici in Italia. IEO Milan: Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharrett AR, Heiss G, Chambless LE, Boerwinkle E, Coady SA, Folsom AR et al. (2001). Metabolic and lifestyle determinants of postprandial lipemia differ from those of fasting triglycerides. The atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 21, 275–281.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1980). Statistical Methods, 7th edn, The Iowa State University Press: Ames, IA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taskinen MR (2003). Diabetic dyslipidaemia: from basic research to clinical practice. Diabetologia 46, 733–749.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trevisan M, Ferro-Luzzi A, Krogh V, Riccardi G, Freudenheim J, Sette S et al. (1992). Questionario alimentare semiquantitativo sviluppato per indagini epidemiologiche in Italia. In: Panico S, Giampaoli S, Sotis G (eds). La Malattia Cardiovascolare Arteriosclerotica nella Donna: Una nuova generazione di studi epidemiologici. Ann Ist Sup San 28, 397–402. Istituto Geografico and Zecca dello Stato: Roma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Wijk JP, Castro Cabezas M, Halkes CJM, Erkelens DW (2001). Effects of different nutrient intakes on daytime triacylglycerolemia in healty, normolipemic, free-living men. Am J Clin Nutr 74, 171–178.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (1999). Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications. World Health Organization report, Geneva.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Accutrend and triglyceride strips were supplied by Roche Diagnostics. This work was supported in part by funds from the Italian Ministry of University, Research and Technology (MURST project 40, 2001065732_004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

    A A Rivellese, C Iovine, O Ciano, L Costagliola, R Galasso, G Riccardi & O Vaccaro

Authors
  1. A A Rivellese
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C Iovine
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. O Ciano
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L Costagliola
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R Galasso
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G Riccardi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. O Vaccaro
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A A Rivellese.

Additional information

Guarantor: AA Rivellese.

Contributors: RAA: conception and design of the work, preparation of the manuscript; IC: conception and execution of the work; CO, CL and GR: analysis of dietary questionnaires and data elaboration; RG: conception of the work; VO: conception design, data analysis and interpretation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rivellese, A., Iovine, C., Ciano, O. et al. Nutrient determinants of postprandial triglyceride response in a population-based sample of type II diabetic patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1168–1173 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602432

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602432

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links