Triglyceride clearance during diets rich in carbohydrate or fats

Abstract

The effect of different diets on the removal of exogenous triglyceride was studied in eight subjects. Clearance rates of the fat emulsion, Intralipid, were measured from new steady-state triglyceride increments during constant infusions of the fat emulsion. Infusions were carried out after the subjects consumed diets rich in polyunsaturated fat, saturated fat, or carbohydrate. Clearance rates were always faster with polyunsaturated than with saturated fat and could not be attributed merely to smaller triglyceride pools. With the carbohydrate studies, infusions were performed during glucose consumption and postabsorptively: the plasma triglyceride concentration was always higher in the postabsorptive phase, whereas the clearance of Intralipid was reduced. During glucose absorption, clearance of Intralipid increased. These studies show that dietary changes influence the removal of large fat particles and may help to explain differences in endogenous triglyceride concentrations with different diets.