A high-fat meal increases cardiovascular reactivity to psychological stress in healthy young adults

J Nutr. 2007 Apr;137(4):935-9. doi: 10.1093/jn/137.4.935.

Abstract

The consumption of high levels of saturated fat over the course of several weeks may lead to exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity. The consumption of a single high-fat meal has been associated with a transient impairment of vascular function. In a randomized, repeated measures, crossover study we tested whether the consumption of a single high-fat meal by healthy, normotensive participants would affect cardiovascular reactivity when compared with an isocaloric, low-fat meal. Thirty healthy participants ate a high-fat (42 g) and a low-fat (1 g) meal on 2 separate occasions, and their cardiovascular response to 2 standard laboratory stressors was measured. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and total peripheral resistance were greater in participants following the consumption of the high-fat meal relative to the low-fat meal. The findings of the present study are consistent with the hypothesis that even a single high-fat meal may be associated with heightened cardiovascular reactivity to stress and offer insight into the pathways through which a high-fat diet may affect cardiovascular function.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects*
  • Cardiovascular System / physiopathology*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diastole
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
  • Systole
  • Vascular Resistance / drug effects

Substances

  • Dietary Fats