The impact of a single high-fat meal on indices of cerebrovascular function & health

• Published in: Physiology (Bethesda, Md.) Md.), 2024-05, Vol.39 (S1)
• Main Authors: Perry, Ken A., Ortiz, Alison, Kolade, John O., Shah, Prarthi J., Patik, Jordan C., Brothers, R. Matthew
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1548-9213; 1548-9221
• DOI: 10.1152/physiol.2024.39.S1.913

Abstract only High-fat diets contribute to elevated risk for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive diseases with reduced vascular health being a contributing factor. It is well documented that a single high-fat meal (HFM) reduces peripheral vascular function. Despite the elevated risk for/prevalence of cerebrovascular and neurocognitive disease with a high-fat diet, the impact of a single HFM on cerebrovascular function/health is less known. Cerebrovascular pulsatility index (PI) (measure of cerebral vascular stiffness) and cerebral autoregulation (ability of the cerebral vasculature to maintain constant blood flow during changes in arterial blood pressure) are indices of cerebral vascular function/health that are impaired in populations with elevated disease risk. To our knowledge, the impact of a HFM on these indices have not been studied. Accordingly, this study tested the hypothesis that a single HFM will blunt cerebrovascular function/health as indexed by increased PI and transfer function gain. Methods: Fifteen individuals (13 male; age: 28±11yr; BMI: 24±4 kg/m²) participated. Measures were made before and 2hr post-consumption of a HFM (990 kcal, 55g fat, 89g CHO, 35 g protein, 2120 mg sodium) which was purchased from McDonald’s. The HFM consisted of the following: 1 Sausage Biscuit, 1 Egg McMuffn, 2 hash browns, and 1 bottle of water. Continuous measures of beat-to-beat blood pressure and middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAV) were obtained during a minimum of 6-min quiet supine rest. Pulsatility index (measure of cerebrovascular stiffness) was calculated as MCAVsystolic − MCAVdiastolic / MCAVmean. Cerebral autoregulation was calculated as transfer function gain between spontaneous beat-to-beat changes in mean blood pressure and MCAVmean. Results: Cerebrovascular stiffness (PI) was increased following the HFM (pre: 0.81±0.12, post: 0.92±0.15; p