(P28-23-26) Effect of a Single High-Fat Meal on Postprandial Lipid Parameters and Gut Permeability Biomarkers in Females With Normal-Weight Obesity

Objectives: Evidence suggests young to middle aged females (but not males), with normal-weight obesity (NWO; normal BMI, high body fat percent) are at heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared to normal-weight lean (NWL; normal BMI, low body fat percent) counterparts. Exaggerated lipid and gut permeability responses to high-fat meals are linked to cardiometabolic disease development. Here, we characterized postprandial lipid metrics and gut permeability biomarkers in NWO females as potential contributors to CVD risk.

Methods: Female participants (N=28; 18-50 years) with a normal BMI (18.5-24.9kg/m²) were grouped based on body fat percent (iDXA): NWO (n=15; body fat >33%) or NWL (n=13; body fat < 33%). Participants reported fasted for one in-laboratory visit. Following IV placement, participants consumed a high-fat meal (Jimmy Deans; 68g fat; 880kcal) and serum was collected at 0 and 1, 2, 3, and 4-hours post-meal. Triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B (apoB), and HDL-C were measured enzymatically (Roche Integra 400). Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) were determined as indicators of intestinal permeability using ELISA. The LBP:sCD14 ratio was also calculated. Primary analyses were two-way, repeated measures ANOVA (group×time).

Results: NWO had greater body fat % and trunk fat (kg), but lower lean mass % than NWL (P’s < 0.001; d=0.60-1.20). Regardless of group, TG increased from baseline and peaked at 3-hours post-meal (P_Time < 0.001; ηp²=0.564). Conversely, HDL-C and apoB decreased from 0 to 2 hours across all participants (P_Time’s < 0.001; ηp²=0.163-0.561). NWO tended to have higher TG (P_Group=0.069; ηp²=0.122) and apoB (P_Group=0.076; ηp²=0.116) throughout the assessment period. Across both groups, LBP and LBP:sCD14 increased at the 3-hour time point (P_Time’s < 0.05; ηp²=0.106-0.112), while sCD14 decreased from baseline to 2-hours post meal (P_Time=0.025; ηp²=0.104). LBP was higher in NWO compared to NWL, regardless of time point (P_Group=0.023; ηp²=0.185). No other group or group×time effects were observed.

Conclusions: Females with NWO and NWL had largely similar postprandial lipid and intestinal permeability responses to high-fat meal consumption. However, NWO had higher LBP throughout the postprandial window, consistent with cardiometabolic risk.

Funding Sources: NIDDK, Internal Funds at Ball State University