# Effect of Differential Fat Loads on CVD Biomarkers in Veterans with HTG

> **NIH VA I01** · BALTIMORE VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a common problem among Veterans and is associated with a greater
likelihood of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our recently completed VA Merit study identified a diet
enriched in non-omega 3 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) to be superior to monounsaturated fat for:
weight loss, reductions in triglycerides (TG), and blood pressure; as well as improvement in
endothelial function in Veterans with the metabolic syndrome. However, the differential effects of an
isocaloric meal that varies in fat composition has not been studied in HTG. Because postprandial
lipemia (PPL) represents a highly atherogenic state and HTG increases the magnitude of PPL;
differentiating between fat meals enriched in saturated fat (SFA), monounsaturated fat (MUFA) and
polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) on mediators of atherosclerosis is highly relevant to Veterans at
increased risk of CVD.
The Specific Aims are as follows:
Specific Aim 1: To test the hypothesis that a fat meal enriched with SFA (coconut oil) will
accentuate PPL compared to a fat meal enriched with MUFA (high oleic sunflower oil) or PUFA
(salmon oil). Specifically, we hypothesize that a MUFA or PUFA enriched meal will produce a
smaller PPL response and downregulate expression and levels of biomarkers of systemic
inflammation and thrombosis compared to an SFA-enriched meal in Veterans with HTG. The effects
are likely to be accentuated after a 4-week dietary phase enriched in saturated fat.
Specific Aim 2: To test the hypothesis that a fat meal enriched with SFA (coconut oil) will impair
endothelial function compared to MUFA (high oleic sunflower oil) or PUFA (salmon oil). Specifically,
we hypothesize that a MUFA or PUFA enriched meal will improve flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD,)
and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) compared to a meal enriched with SFA in
Veterans with HTG.
Specific Aim 3: To study the lipid-based mechanisms modulating the response to a fat-enriched
meal. They include HDL function (cholesterol efflux, HDL oxidation index and paraoxonase activity),
lipolytic and transfer protein activity (LPL, HL, CETP), adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial
monolayer, miRNA profiles in endothelial cells and monocyte/macrophages, and effects on the gut
microbiome. We hypothesize that a fat meal enriched with SFA coconut oil will impair these
parameters to a greater extent than MUFA or PUFA enriched meals, and that this effect is likely to be
accentuated after a 4-week dietary phase enriched in saturated fat.
This VA Merit proposal capitalizes on collaboration among experienced investigators in lipoprotein
metabolism and nutritional biochemistry. Collectively, these studies are expected to advance our
understanding of the differential effects of a fat-enriched meal on: lipoprotein metabolism,
inflammation, molecular expression of cellular and vascular mediators of inflammation, HDL and
endothelial function and atherogenic gut metabolites in Veterans at accelerated CVD risk. The stu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9889253
- **Project number:** 1I01CX001860-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** BALTIMORE VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL MILLER
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9889253

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9889253, Effect of Differential Fat Loads on CVD Biomarkers in Veterans with HTG (1I01CX001860-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9889253. Licensed CC0.

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