Nicole Preder, Dr.
Kerry Peterson, University of Wisconsin Stout
Abstract:
The aim of this research project was to investigate whether acute exercise and
strawberry consumption improved postprandial responses to an oral fat tolerance
test (OFTT) in overweight/obese males (1). During the postprandial state
macronutrients are being digested and absorbed, specifically within this topic, the
digestion, absorption, and metabolism of lipids is being discussed. The first task
entailed overweight/obese adult males undergoing four separate OFTT (73 g fat, 33
g carbohydrate) with blood sampled at baseline and hourly for 4 hours after OFTT.
Two OFTT contained 25 g freeze-dried strawberries and two contained strawberry
flavoring (placeob). Participants performed 40 min of submaximal high-intensity
interval cycling exercise 16 hours before one strawberry and one placebo OFTT and
rested before the remaining two OFTT. Serum TAG was analyzed, and TAG area
under the curve (AUC) and incremental AUC (iAUC) were calculated. Oxidative
stress markers were measured at baseline and 4 hours. Differences between
conditions (strawberry/placebo and exercise/rest) were assessed using repeated-
measures ANOVA. The results of the experiment showed that acute submaximal
high-intensity interval cycling exercise appears effective in reducing postprandial
lipemia in overweight/obese adult males. However, strawberry ingestion did not
improve postprandial TAG. With these conclusions we can say that ultimately, high-
intensity interval cycling amongst other acute interval exercises are ideal for
optimizing cardiovascular health (1).
Figure 1.
Background Information:
“Postprandial” can also be known as the “fed state”, which implies that it
is the state after one has put food into their body. “Lipemia” is the state
where excess fats or lipids remain in the blood. So when looking at the
state of postprandial lipemia, we can understand that it is a rise in
triglyceride-rich lipoproteins after eating. The lipoproteins that are
specifically triglyceride-rich are chylomicrons and Very-Low-Density-
Lipoproteins (VLDL). The chylomicrons will disappear after all the dietary
triacyclglycerols are delivered to target tissues. The VLDL will then be
transported using “endogenous lipid transport”. VLDL are assembled in
the liver from endogenous triacyclglycerols in much the same way as
chylomicrons are assembled in the enterocytes from dietary
triacylglycerol (Figure 1). Within the muscle cell, the free fatty acids and
monoacylglycerols from VLDL are primarily oxidized for energy, with only
limited amounts resynthesized for storage as triacyclglycerols. Endurance
trained muscle, however, does contain some triacylglycerol deposits (2).
Reduction of the postprandial triglyceride (TAG) response, total and
oxidized LDL (oxLDL), is therefore likely to be beneficial for optimizing
long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health, particularly in
overweight or obese individuals.
The specific type of exercise that this experiment targeted was “acute
interval exercise”. Interval exercise involving several bursts of high-
intensity exercise interspersed with light exercise is also an effective
strategy to reduce postprandial lipemia, but few studies have been
conducted (1).
The other control of this experiment entailed the consumption of
strawberries. This specific fruit was used in this experiment because they
are rich in dietary fiber, essential nutrients and considered to be a
functional food. A strawberry is considered to be a functional food
because of its antioxidants, anti-inflammatory characteristics, anti-
hypertensive nature, and lipid lowering effects. The high content of
phenols within strawberries are proposed to be important for modifying
circulating lipids and lipid oxidation in the postprandial period (1).
Maintaining good cardiovascular health is very important for a lifelong
good-bill of health. By incorporating more fruits, vegetables, fluids, and
physical activity into our everyday lives, we are giving ourselves a better
chance at lifelong health and happiness.
References:
1. O'Doherty AF, Jones HS, Sathyapalan T, Ingle L, Carroll S. The effects of acute interval exercise and
strawberry intake on postprandial lipemia. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2017 Nov;49(11):2315-2323.
2. Groff J., Smith J., Gropper, S. Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. 6th edition. Belmont CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013.
3. Thackray AE, Barrett LA, Tolfrey K. Acute high0intensity interval running reduces postprandial lipemia in
boys. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2013 Jul;45(7):1277-1284.
4. Gill JMR, Herd SL, Hardman AE. Moderate exercise and post-prandial metabolism: issues of dose-
response. J Sports Sci 2002;20: 961-967.
Reducing Postprandial Triacylglycerides and Oxidative Stress:
Introduction: (1)
Raised postprandial triglycerides (TAG) and related oxidative stresses are strongly associated with increased
cardiovascular disease risk. Acute exercise and strawberry ingestion independently ameliorate postprandial lipid
excursions and oxidative stress. However, the combined effects of these lifestyle interventions are unknown. We
investigated whether acute exercise and strawberry consumption improved postprandial responses to an oral fat
tolerance test (OFTT) in overweight/obese males.
Methods: (1)
Overweight and obese adult males (body mass index [BMI] 9 25 kg*m, waist circumference 9 94 cm) with no
known cardiometabolic disorders were recruited. Participants were excluded if they smoked, had known
cardiometabolic disease, were taking lipid-lowering medication, had poorly controlled blood pressure, or had
abnormalities identified by the cardiopulmonary exercise test during the screening visit that would increase the
risk of performing the subsequent exercise trials. This study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki
and approved by the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science Ethics Committee, University of Hull.
Written informed consent was given by all participants before study commencement.
Study Design: (1)
There were four experimental conditions, which included an abbreviated OFTT meal containing whole milk, double
cream, and either strawberry milkshake mix (placebo) or freeze-dried strawberries (intervention). The OFTT meals
were preceded by either rest or submaximal high-intensity interval exercise conducted on the day before OFTT.
Submaximal high-intensity interval exercise was performed on a cycle ergometer using individualized protocols
during each of the two exercise sessions. Before interval exercise, there was 6 minutes of exercise, immediately
followed by 6 minutes of exercise at a work rate selected at 90% of the oxygen consumption, performed as a
warm-up. The low-intensity interval exercise was set at 50% of the work rate. The high to low-intensity exercise
ratio was 1 minute high-intensity exercise to 1 minute low intensity exercise for 40 minutes. Work rates were
calculated from cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with adjustment for oxygen kinetics. Each participant
completed placebo OFTT rest condition, strawberry OFTT rest condition, placebo OFTT exercise condition, and
strawberry OFTT exercise condition. Participants attended the research laboratory before 10:00 AM on four
separate occasions, separated by at least 72 hours. During the acute exercise conditions, participants attended the
laboratory after 3:30 PM, 16 to 18 hours before the scheduled OFTT. The order in which the trial conditions were
performed was randomized for each participant using the Research Randomizer software. All tests were completed
within 8 weeks of the screening visit. Participants fasted for 2 hours before the screening visit. Each participant was
required to provide their written in consent form and document their baseline stature, body mass, and waist and
hip circumferences were measured in line with the “American College of Sports Medicine’s Guidelines for Exercise
Testing and Prescription”. Body fat content (percentage) was estimated using bioimpedance. Blood pressure and
resting ECG were taken, and this was followed by a symptom-limited maximal CPET to volitional exhaustion.
Results: (1)
Serum TAG Responses to OTFF: TAG increased from baseline in all conditions and peaked at 3 to 4 hours. (Figure 2)
Total AUC: TAG AUC was 1.5 mmol per 4 h-1 * L-1 for the two exercise conditions compared with the two resting
conditions. There were no differences in TAG AUC between the strawberry OFTT and the placebo OFTT. (Table 3)
Discussion: (1, 3, 4)
From the research study titled “Acute High-Intensity Interval Running Reduces Postprandial Lipemia in Boys” , it
was concluded that a single secession of low-volume high intensity interval running performed the day before
standardized test meals reduced postprandial TAG concentrations in health, active 11 to 12 year old boys. From the
other research study titles “Moderate exercise and postprandial metabolism issue of dose-response” it was
concluded that the effects of moderate exercise on post-prandial lipemia, a risk marker for cardiovascular disease
and implicated in the atherosclerotic disease process by several mechanisms are related to the duration, and thus
the energy expenditure, of the exercise session. The two comparative studies supported the research findings from
the initial research study analyzing the effects of acute interval exercise and strawberry intake on postprandial
lipemia.
Summary:
Living an active lifestyle is crucial in for the individuals cardiovascular health. This claim can be justified through the
studies presented, showing that exercise, whether its interval exercise or for a durational amount of time is
capable of reducing triacylglyceride concentrations. What is know as “good cholesterol” is high-density
lipoproteins and what is known as “bad cholesterol” is low-density lipoproteins, with physical exercise and a
healthy diet, we can be assured that we will have a higher good cholesterol lipid panel result. For multiple reasons
physical activity is important in our everyday lives, but more importantly it is vital for our central organ, the heart.