Manipulation of lipid bioaccessibility of almond seeds influences postprandial lipemia in healthy human subjects.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial
PubMed 18842777 · doi:10.1093/ajcn/88.4.922
What was done
A randomized crossover trial in 20 healthy men evaluated the effect of lipid bioaccessibility on acute postprandial responses. Participants consumed three test meals containing 54 g fat provided as intact whole almond seed macroparticles (WA), almond oil combined with defatted almond flour (AO), or a sunflower oil blend control (CO). Postprandial plasma triacylglycerol, glucose, insulin, oxidative stress (8-isoprostane F2alpha), and vascular tone (peripheral augmentation index) were measured.
What was found
The postprandial increase in plasma triacylglycerol incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was 74% lower after the WA meal than after the AO meal and 58% lower than after the CO meal (P < 0.001). Plasma glucose iAUC (0–180 min) was higher following WA (114; 95% CI: 76, 153) compared to AO (74; 95% CI: 48, 99) (P < 0.05), but did not differ significantly from CO (88; 95% CI: 66, 109). Peak reductions in peripheral augmentation index at 2 hours (-9.5% WA, -10.1% AO, -12.6% CO), plasma insulin, and 8-isoprostane F2alpha concentrations showed no significant differences among the three meals.
Why it matters
This study shows that physical encapsulation of fat within intact plant cell walls limits lipid bioaccessibility and markedly reduces acute postprandial lipemia compared to consuming the same nutrients as free oil.
Limits
The study was restricted to a small cohort of 20 healthy men, limiting generalizability to women and individuals with metabolic disorders or dyslipidemia. It measured only acute single-meal postprandial responses and did not evaluate chronic clinical outcomes.
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