Effect of industrially produced trans fat on markers of systemic inflammation: evidence from a randomized trial in women

• Published in: Journal of lipid research 2011-10, Vol.52 (10), p.1821-1828
• Main Authors: Bendsen, Nathalie T., Stender, Steen, Szecsi, Pal B., Pedersen, Steen B., Basu, Samar, Hellgren, Lars I., Newman, John W., Larsen, Thomas M., Haugaard, Steen B., Astrup, Arne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; ceramide; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - metabolism; dietary intervention; Double-Blind Method; Endothelium - drug effects; Endothelium - metabolism; fatty acids; Female; Food Industry; Humans; Hydrogenation; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - metabolism; Inflammation - pathology; Middle Aged; Overweight - metabolism; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Patient-Oriented and Epidemiological Research; Postmenopause - metabolism; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I - blood; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II - blood; Risk Factors; Soybean Oil - administration & dosage; Soybean Oil - chemistry; subcutaneous adipose tissue; Time Factors; Trans Fatty Acids - administration & dosage; Trans Fatty Acids - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-2275; 1539-7262; 1539-7262
• DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M014738

Consumption of industrially produced trans fatty acids (IP-TFA) has been positively associated with systemic markers of low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cross-sectional studies, but results from intervention studies are inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a 16 week double-blind parallel intervention study with the objective to examine the effect of IP-TFA intake on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Fifty-two healthy overweight postmenopausal women (49 completers) were randomly assigned to receive either partially hydrogenated soybean oil (15.7 g/day IP-TFA) or control oil without IP-TFA. After 16 weeks, IP-TFA intake increased baseline-adjusted serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α by 12% [95% confidence interval (CI): 5–20; P= 0.002] more in the IP-TFA group compared with controls. Plasma soluble TNF receptors 1 and 2 were also increased by IP-TFA [155 pg/ml (CI: 63–247); P < 0.001 and 480 pg/ml (CI: 72–887); P= 0.02, respectively]. Serum C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL) 6 and adiponectin and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue mRNA expression of IL6, IL8, TNFα, and adiponectin as well as ceramide content were not affected by IP-TFA, nor was urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α. In conclusion, this dietary trial indicates that the mechanisms linking dietary IP-TFA to cardiovascular disease may involve activation of the TNFα system.