Effect of Paraplegia on the Time Course of Exogenous Fatty Acid Incorporation Into the Plasma Triacylglycerol Pool in the Postprandial State

Frontiers in Physiology, 2021 · DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.626003 · Published: February 3, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Endocrinology Neurology

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can disrupt how the body processes fats, potentially increasing the risk of heart-related issues. This study looks at how SCI affects the absorption of dietary fats after a meal. The researchers gave a standardized liquid meal containing a special type of fat to people with and without paraplegia (motor complete thoracic SCI). Blood samples were taken over several hours to track how the dietary fat was absorbed into the blood. The study found that the level of spinal cord injury was related to how quickly dietary fats appeared in the bloodstream after the meal. This suggests that the nervous system plays a role in how the body absorbs dietary fats after SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

8 adult males without SCI and 8 with chronic thoracic SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The study found no significant main effect of group (PARA vs. CON) on exogenous TAG, suggesting that the overall amount of fat absorbed wasn't significantly different.
2
There was a strong negative correlation between the level of spinal cord injury and the time it took for exogenous TAG to peak in the bloodstream (r = -0.806, p = 0.012).
3
Higher injuries resulted in a slower rise in exogenous TAG, suggesting a neurogenic alteration in dietary fat absorption in SCI.

Research Summary

This study investigated the impact of paraplegia on dietary fat absorption by tracking the time course of exogenous fatty acid incorporation into the plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) pool in the postprandial state. The key finding was a strong correlation between the level of spinal cord injury and the time-to-peak exogenous TAG concentration, suggesting that higher injuries result in a slower rate of dietary fat absorption. This research provides the first evidence of a potential neurogenic alteration in dietary fat absorption in individuals with SCI, highlighting the role of the central nervous system in regulating dietary fat metabolism.

Practical Implications

Understanding Dyslipidemia

The findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying dyslipidemia in individuals with SCI.

Personalized Nutritional Strategies

The relationship between injury level and fat absorption could inform the development of personalized nutritional strategies for individuals with SCI.

Therapeutic Targets

The study highlights the potential of targeting the autonomic nervous system to improve dietary fat absorption in individuals with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The sample size was relatively small (n=16).
2
The study only included males.
3
The study did not directly measure the activity of the autonomic nervous system.

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