Meal frequency differentially alters postprandial triacylglycerol and insulin concentrations in obese women

The aim of this study was to compare postprandial lipemia, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, and insulinemia between a three and six isocaloric high carbohydrate meal frequency pattern in obese women. In a counterbalanced order eight obese women completed two, 12 h conditions in which they consumed 1500 calories (14% protein, 21% fat, and 65% carbohydrate) either as three 500 calorie liquid meals every 4 h or six 250 calorie liquid meals every 2 h. Blood samples were taken every 30 min and analyzed for triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase-1 activity, and insulin. The TAG incremental area under the curve (iAUC) during the three meal condition (321 ± 129 mg/dL·12 h) was significantly lower (P = 0.04) compared to the six meal condition (481 ± 155 mg/dL·12 h). The insulin iAUC during the three meal condition (5,549 ± 1,007 pmol/L·12 h) was significantly higher (P = 0.05) compared to the six meal condition (4,230 ± 757 pmol/L·12 h). Meal frequency had no influence on the other biochemical variables. Collectively, a three and six isocaloric high carbohydrate meal frequency pattern differentially alters postprandial TAG and insulin concentrations but has no effect on postprandial cholesterol, oxidative stress, or antioxidant activity in obese women.