Background
Evidence suggests that an acute systemic inflammatory response is invoked following a high-energy meal. The gelatinases, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are important mediators of inflammation, are implicated in adipose tissue development, and are positively correlated with obesity. However, no studies to date have investigated the postprandial effects of a high-energy meal on circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 in humans.
Objective
To examine the postprandial effect of a high-energy (5MJ) test-meal on plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 and to investigate the differential effect of a high-fat (HF) versus a low-fat (LF) test-meal on MMP-2 and MMP-9.
Methods
Seventeen lean, healthy males (BMI 22±0.5kg/m2, age 21±0.49y) participated in this single-blind, randomised, cross-over study. A HF test-meal (5001kJ, 45g fat) and an isoenergetic LF test-meal (5003kJ, 15g fat) were consumed by each subject on two separate occasions. Blood samples were collected by venepuncture at baseline (0h), at 1h and 3h following ingestion of each test-meal. Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was determined by gelatin zymography. Data underwent repeated measures ANOVA and were expressed as mean±SEM (P<0.05).
0>Results
At baseline, there was no significant difference in plasma MMP-2 or MMP-9 between the two treatments (P>0.05). When analysed independent of treatment, there was no significant change in plasma MMP-2 (time, P=0.51) or MMP-9 (time, P=0.52) over the 3h postprandial period. There was no differential effect of the HF versus the LF test-meal (time*treatment P>0.05) on circulating MMP-2 or MMP-9 at 1h or at 3h.
Conclusion
This study showed no postprandial changes in circulating MMP-2 or MMP-9 following consumption of a high-energy meal nor any differential effect of a HF versus a LF test-meal on these parameters. Further research is necessary to elucidate the potential effect of dietary fat on gelatinases in humans.
Source of funding
This study was supported by internal funding.