Award details

Influence of amount and type of fat on vascular function in subjects with insulin resistance

Reference	BB/C505583/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Thomas Andrew Bruce Sanders
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Phil Chowienczyk
Institution	King's College London
Department	Nutritional Sciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	196,484
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	04/01/2005
End date	03/01/2008
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Altered vascular function is one of the hallmarks of the disorders associated with resistance to the action of insulin which are commonly referred to as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome which covers a wide spectrum of disorders progressing from raised blood insulin levels to impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes; it is characterised by a lack of appropriate response to insulin. Metabolic syndrome greatly increases risk of cardiovascular disease and it is estimated that one-third of the adult population shows some features of metabolic syndrome. It is currently believed that the impaired vascular function is a consequence of increased production of reactive oxygen species that decrease the bioavailability of nitric oxide NO a potent anti-atherogenic molecule with vasodilator, anti-platelet, anti-leukocyte and anti-proliferative actions. The altered vascular function associated with metabolic syndrome is accompanied by an increase in the levels of isoprostanes in blood. These isoprostanes are believed to result from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by reactive oxygen species especially those produced in the blood vessel wall. For the past thirty years or so public health advice has focused on decreasing the amount of fat in the diet. Recent research suggests that diets containing higher amounts of fat, particularly if they are in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids, are associated with a lower risk of heart disease and may improve some of the features of metabolic syndrome. A key scientific and public health question is whether present attempts to reduce intakes of saturated fats via low fat, high carbohydrate diets, or by moderate fat diets with saturated fats substituted for monounsaturated fats, have differing effects on vascular function. Some studies suggest that diets high in carbohydrate exacerbate metabolic syndrome because they increase insulin output and may exacerbate insulin resistance. But some other studies have found that high fat meals may have caused adverse effects on vascular function. The proposed study takes advantage of a large multi-centre study being funded by the Food Standards Agency to ascertain the effects of changing the amount and type of fat in the diet to study the effects of vascular function. Measurements of vascular functions will be undertaken using two non-invasive techniques. The first involves observing the relaxation of the brachial artery by ultrasound following a five minute inflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff. This response gives an indication of the lining of the blood vessel wall (the vascular endothelium) to produce chemicals that cause the artery to dilate when the blood supply has been cut off. The second method measures arterial stiffness and distensibility by the rate of propogation of the pulse wave from along the aorta. Blood samples will be collected in order to measure plasma isoprostanes. The results of this study should provide data to inform public health policy for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and its related cardiovascular pathologies.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search