Central and peripheral arterial stiffness responses to uninterrupted prolonged sitting combined with a high-fat meal: a randomized controlled crossover trial

Abstract

Independently, prolonged uninterrupted sitting and the consumption of a meal high in saturated fats acutely disrupt normal cardiovascular function. Currently, the acute effects of these behaviors performed in combination on arterial stiffness, a marker of cardiovascular health, are unknown. This study sought to determine the effect of consuming a high-fat meal (Δ = 51 g fat) in conjunction with prolonged uninterrupted sitting (180 min) on measures of central and peripheral arterial stiffness. Using a randomized crossover design, 13 young healthy males consumed a high-fat (61 g) or low-fat (10 g) meal before 180 min of uninterrupted sitting. Carotid-femoral (cf) and femoral-ankle (fa) pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic-femoral stiffness gradient (af-SG), superficial femoral PWV beta (β), and oscillometric pulse wave analysis outcomes were assessed pre and post sitting. cfPWV increased significantly more following the high-fat (mean difference [MD] = 0.59 m·s−1) meal than following the low-fat (MD = 0.2 m·s−1) meal, with no change in faPWV in either condition. The af-SG significantly decreased (worsened) (ηp2 = 0.569) over time in the high- and low-fat conditions (ratio = 0.1 and 0.1, respectively). Superficial femoral PWVβ significantly increased over time in the high- and low-fat conditions (ηp2 = 0.321; 0.8 and 0.4 m·s−1, respectively). Triglycerides increased over time in the high-fat trial only (ηp2 = 0.761). There were no significant changes in blood pressure. Consuming a high-fat meal prior to 180 min of uninterrupted sitting augments markers of cardiovascular disease risk more than consuming a low-fat meal prior to sitting.

Leg Fidgeting Improves Executive Function following Prolonged Sitting with a Typical Western Meal: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-Over Trial

“…As a traditional Western meal high in refined sugars and fats, all participants consumed a McDonald's Corporation breakfast meal which included a double sausage and egg McMuffin, two hash browns and a hot chocolate with added double cream (1066 kcal, 4.5 MJ, 61 g fat [of which 20 g was saturated fat], 86 g carbohydrates, 40 g protein and 5 g salt) as this has previously been shown to impair arterial function [15,23].…”

“…Whilst executive function and brain blood flow decreased over time, there was no condition effect suggesting glycaemic index alone did not play a role. However, consumption of a Westernized meal high in refined sugars and triglycerides followed by 180 min of uninterrupted sitting, has been shown to significantly worsen arterial stiffness [15], and independent of sitting, impair cerebrovascular, and executive function [16]. What is not known is whether a simple desk-based mitigation strategy such as leg fidgeting may be of use in offsetting any cerebrovascular and cognitive impairment following a prolonged sitting after consuming a Westernized meal.…”

Current topic of vascular function in hypertension

“…In addition to exercise, dietary patterns have acute and chronic effects on vascular function. Fryer et al investigated the acute effects of a combination of prolonged uninterrupted sitting (180 min) and a high-saturated fat meal on arterial stiffness in 13 healthy nonsmoking males [ 41 ]. They reported that central arterial stiffness assessed by cfPWV and peripheral arterial stiffness assessed by PWV β were more deteriorated by consuming a high-fat meal (61 g fat, 1066 kcal) prior to prolonged uninterrupted sitting than by consuming a low-fat meal (10 g fat, 601 kcal) prior to prolonged uninterrupted sitting.…”

Sedentary behavior and cardiovascular disease risk: An evolutionary perspective

“…The typical Western diet is relatively high in both fat and refined carbohydrate content compared to diets in previous eras, ( Drewnowski and Popkin, 1997 ) and the consumption of a high-fat meal before a sitting bout is associated with increased markers of CVD risk for up to 180 min after the meal. ( Fryer et al, 2021 ) While similar research has yet to be conducted on SB and high-carbohydrate meals, some data indicates that high-carbohydrate meals followed by prolonged sitting result in elevated postprandial blood glucose responses relative to interrupted sitting, which may have cardiovascular implications. ( Dempsey et al, 2018 ) Similarly, while the behaviors of historic humans after mealtimes may be uncertain, technology has increased the options of leisure time SB following mealtimes available to modern humans.…”