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. 2018 Mar 8:9:183.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00183. eCollection 2018.

Regular Aerobic, Resistance, and Cross-Training Exercise Prevents Reduced Vascular Function Following a High Sugar or High Fat Mixed Meal in Young Healthy Adults

Emon K Das  1 , Pui Y Lai  1 , Austin T Robinson  2   3   4 , Joan Pleuss  1 , Mohamed M Ali  2   3   4 , Jacob M Haus  3   4 , David D Gutterman  1 , Shane A Phillips  1   2   3   4   5
Affiliations

Regular Aerobic, Resistance, and Cross-Training Exercise Prevents Reduced Vascular Function Following a High Sugar or High Fat Mixed Meal in Young Healthy Adults

Emon K Das et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

The postprandial state can negatively influence flow mediated dilation (FMD), a predictor of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. This investigation was designed to determine the effect of regular aerobic and/or resistance exercise on postprandial FMD after a high sugar or high fat mixed meal. Forty-five healthy participants were recruited from one of four groups: lean sedentary (SED), runners, weight lifters, and cross-trainers. Participants were randomly crossed over to a high sugar meal (HSM) and a high fat mixed meal (HFMM; both fat and carbohydrate). Pre-and postprandial endothelial function was assessed for both meals using brachial artery FMD. Plasma lipids, insulin, glucose, hs-CRP, and SOD were also measured with both meals. Endothelium-independent dilation was determined via sublingual nitroglycerin. Brachial artery FMD was reduced in SED following the HSM (9.9 ± 0.9% at baseline, peak reduction at 60 min 6.5 ± 1.0%) and the HFMM (9.4 ± 0.9% at baseline, peak reduction at 120 min 5.9 ± 1.2%; P < 0.05 for both, Mean ± SEM). There was no change in FMD after either HSM or HFMM in runners, weight lifters, and cross-trainers. Post-prandial increases in blood glucose, insulin and triglycerides were less pronounced in the exercisers compared to SED. In addition, exercisers presented lower baseline plasma hs-CRP and higher SOD activity. Nitroglycerin responses were similar among groups. These results suggest that endothelial function is reduced in sedentary adults after a HSM or HFMM, but not in regular aerobic or resistance exercisers. This response may be due to favorable postprandial metabolic responses or lower postprandial levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. These findings may help to explain the cardioprotective effect of exercise.

Keywords: arteriosclerosis; dietary carbohydrates; dietary fats; endothelium; postprandial lipemia; regular exercise; vascular; vasodilation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design: Sedentary participants (n = 11), runners (n = 12), weight lifters (n = 13), and cross-trainers (n = 9) were screened, consented, and enrolled in the study. Subjects underwent a resting FMD and blood draw followed by a 75 g glucose drink (high sugar meal; HSM) or a high fat mixed meal (HFMM) followed by repeated measures FMD and blood draws at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-meal. Participants were instructed to drink the meals within 10 min. Blood draws were taken for determination blood glucose, insulin, and triglycerides. Following ≥ 1-week washout for males and 1-month for females, the visit was repeated for the remaining meal. Meal order was randomized.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Brachial artery FMD responses to a 75 g glucose high sugar meal (HSM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in (A) sedentary participants (n = 11), (B) runners (n = 12), (C) weight lifters (n = 13), and (D) cross-trainers (n = 9). Brachial artery FMD scale is on the left Y-axis. Nitroglycerin (NTG) mediated dilation is depicted on the right Y-axis. All data presented as mean ± SEM. *Indicates significant difference compared to baseline FMD measure (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Brachial artery FMD responses to a high fat mixed meal (HFMM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in (A) sedentary participants (n = 11), (B) runners (n = 12), (C) weight lifters (n = 13), and (D) cross-trainers (n = 9). Brachial artery FMD scale is on the left Y-axis. Nitroglycerin (NTG) mediated dilation depicted on the right Y-axis. All data presented as mean ± SEM. *Indicates significant difference compared to baseline FMD measure (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Repeated measures of Brachial Artery FMD. As time control, a subset of participants (n = 13) underwent the same protocol as the HSM and HFMM trials except they were given 12 oz. water. Brachial artery FMD responses at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion are shown here. All data presented as mean ± SEM.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Glucose homeostatic responses to a 75 g glucose high sugar meal (HSM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in sedentary participants (n = 11) and exercisers (n = 33). (A) Blood glucose response over 180 min. (B) Serum insulin levels over 180 min. (C) Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and (D) Glucose are under the curve (AUC) over the 180 min postprandial period. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between sedentary participants and exercisers (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Serum triglycerides responses to a 75 g glucose high sugar meal (HSM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in sedentary participants (n = 11) and exercisers (n = 33). (A) Serum triglyceride levels over 180 min. and (B) Serum triglyceride area under the curve (AUC) over the 180 min postprandial period. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between sedentary participants and exercisers (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Glucose homeostatic responses to a high fat mixed meal (HFMM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in sedentary participants (n = 11) and exercisers (n = 33). (A) Blood glucose response over 180 min. (B) Serum insulin levels over 180 min. (C) Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and (D) Glucose are under the curve (AUC) over the 180 min postprandial period. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between sedentary participants and exercisers (adjusted P < 0.05 after Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Serum triglyceride responses to a high fat mixed meal (HFMM) at baseline, and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min post-ingestion in sedentary participants (n = 11) and exercisers (n = 33). (A) Serum triglyceride levels over 180 min. and (B) Serum triglyceride area under the curve (AUC) over the 180 min postprandial period. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between sedentary participants and exercisers (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Metabolic responses at baseline, and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min to a 75 g glucose high sugar meal (HSM) in runners (n = 11), weightlifters (n = 13), and cross-trainers (n = 9). (A) Blood glucose response over 180 min. (B) Serum insulin levels over 180 min (C) Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and (D) Serum triglyceride levels over 180 min. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between groups (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Metabolic responses at baseline, and 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min to a high fat mixed meal (HFMM) in runners (n = 11), weightlifters (n = 13), and cross-trainers (n = 9). (A) Blood glucose response over 180 min. (B) Serum insulin levels over 180 min. (C) Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and (D) Serum triglyceride levels over 180 min. All data presented as mean ± SEM. †Indicates significant main or interaction effect (P < 0.05). *Indicates significant difference between groups (adjusted P < 0.05; Sidak-Bonferroni adjustment for ANOVA multiple comparisons).
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