Postprandial plasma acylation stimulating protein response and fat metabolism in post-obese women

Acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a plasma protein that significantly increases adipose tissue fat storage. In vivo and in vitro studies have suggested a role for plasma ASP in enhancing postprandial plasma triglyceride (TG) clearance. The primary objective of this study was to examine, for the first time, the postprandial response of plasma ASP and the fate of an exogenous fat source in 8 post-obese and 8 matched control women. This was done through following 13C-labeled high fat breakfast meal (1062 Cal, 67% fat) every 2 hours for 8 hours in 3 plasma pools and in expired breath CO2. The 3 plasma pools were: TG fraction in triglyceride rich lipoproteins (TRL) with sedimentation factor Sf > 400 (referred to as chylomicron-TG), TG fraction in TRL with Sf = 20--400 (referred to as VLDL-TG), and plasma free fatty acid (FFA). The secondary objective was to examine fasting and postprandial resting energy expenditure (REE), thermic effect of food (TEF), carbohydrate to fat oxidation rate and insulin sensitivity, which are factors that have been implicated in the tendency of post-obese women to regain weight. (Abstract shortened by UMI.