Diurnal trends in responses of blood plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide following high- and low-fat meals and their relation to fat metabolism in healthy middle-aged volunteers

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in twelve healthy middle-aged volunteers, six of each sex, with a mean BMI of 27kg/m2 to detect differences between morning and afternoon in postprandial blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide concentrations. These responses were measured following the consumption of isoenergetic meals that were high or low in fat content, at breakfast and at lunch. Over 4d each subject received the high-carbohydrate (L, 5·5 g mixed fat/meal) and moderately high-fat (M, 33 g mixed fat/meal) breakfasts and lunches, in three combinations (LL, MM, LM), or they fasted at breakfast time and received a moderately high-fat lunch (NM), in three Latin squares. Each evening a standard meal was given. Plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide responses were greater following L than M meals and within both MM and LL treatments insulin and C-peptide responses were greater following breakfast than following lunch. The incremental C-peptide response to a fatty lunch following a fast at breakfast time (NM) was similar to that to a fatty breakfast, but the incremental insulin response for the same comparison was marginally lower at lunch (P=0·06). The relationship of C-peptide and insulin concentrations was assessed. Plasma glucose response to a fatty lunch was increased by a fatty breakfast. The relationships of these metabolic events with fat metabolism are discussed.