Postprandial effect of n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins and vascular reactivity in type 2 diabetes

Background: Plasma lipoproteins may be classified by their apolipoprotein composition. The lipoprotein subclass containing apolipoproteins B and C (LpB:C) is considered the most atherogenic. Objective: We evaluated the acute effects of individual fatty acids on apolipoprotein B (apo B)-containing lipoproteins in adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 15). Design: We administered 3 meals in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Treatments contained skim milk and 50 g fat from high-oleic acid safflower and canola oils (monounsaturated fatty acid; MUFA), MUFA + 3.5 g α-linolenic acid (ALA; MUFA + ALA) from high-ALA canola oil, or MUFA + 4.0 g both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; MUFA + EPA/DHA) from sardine oil. Apo B, LpB, LpB:C, LpB:E + LpB: C:E, and LpA-II:B:C:D:E were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 h after the meal. Flow-mediated dilation was measured at baseline and 4 h after the meal. Results: The treatments significantly increased apo B and LpB post-prandially (P < 0.03 for both), but the magnitude of the changes did not differ significantly between the treatments. The postprandial change in LpB:C was 23% lower after MUFA + EPA/DHA than after MUFA (treatment X time interaction, P < 0.0001). MUFA + ALA attenuated the increase in LpA-II:B:C:D:E in those with high triacylglycerols (≥ 1.69 mmol/L) but was the only treatment to significantly increase this particle in those with low triacylglycerols (treatment X group interaction, P < 0.0001). Examination of change scores did not reveal the source of the interaction of treatment and time (P < 0.007) for LpB:E + LpB:C:E. Furthermore, the subjects with the largest increases in LpB:C exhibited the largest impairment in endothelial function. Conclusions: The results suggest that unsaturated fatty acids differentially affect concentrations of apo B-containing lipoprotein subclasses. A rise in LpB:C adversely affects endothelial function. Meals containing MUFA + EPA/DHA attenuated the postprandial rise in LpB:C and the impairment of endothelial function.