Failure to suppress postprandial non-esterified fatty acids following high fructose feeding in men of Black African origin but not in men of white European origin

Abstract

Background: Black-African (BA) populations have historically had cardioprotective lipid profiles(1) but more recent North American data indicates this protection has been for the most part lost(2). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated concurrent increases in fructose consumption and cardiovascular risk in the United States(3). Fructose has lipogenic potential because of its insulin-independent hepatic metabolism however there have been no studies of its effect in BA people. The present study investigated the hypothesis that high fructose feeding would potentiate greater post-prandial hypertriglyceridemia in BA compared to White-European (WE) men. Methods: We conducted a double-blinded pilot study in healthy BA (n=7) and WE (n=8) men in which 25% of total 24hr energy intake was provided as fructose. Blood sampling was performed throughout the postprandial period to determine serum triglyceride (TG), glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and insulin concentrations. The iAUC for each outcome was calculated and compared between ethnic groups by t-test and multivariate ANOVA. Results: The serum glucose, insulin and NEFA iAUC did not differ between ethnic groups, but a trend towards significance was observed for TG iAUC (p=0.07) (Figure 1A-1D). Multivariate ANOVA demonstrated multiple significant time-point differences showing a lack of suppression of NEFA in BA men (p<0.05) (Figure 1C). Conclusions: These data show a trend towards raised postprandial TG and a failure to suppress NEFA production in BA compared to WE men following acute high fructose feeding. Excessive fructose consumption could drive metabolic changes, similar to those reported here, and may be particularly relevant to cardiometabolic risk development in BA populations.