scholarly journals Plasma Free Fatty Acid Concentration as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Metabolic Disease

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2590
Author(s):  
Gregory C. Henderson

Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration is elevated in obesity, insulin resistance (IR), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and related comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, experimentally manipulating plasma FFA in the laboratory setting modulates metabolic markers of these disease processes. In this article, evidence is presented indicating that plasma FFA is a disease risk factor. Elevations of plasma FFA can promote ectopic lipid deposition, IR, as well as vascular and cardiac dysfunction. Typically, elevated plasma FFA results from accelerated adipose tissue lipolysis, caused by a high adipose tissue mass, adrenal hormones, or other physiological stressors. Reducing an individual’s postabsorptive and postprandial plasma FFA concentration is expected to improve health. Lifestyle change could provide a significant opportunity for plasma FFA reduction. Various factors can impact plasma FFA concentration, such as chronic restriction of dietary energy intake and weight loss, as well as exercise, sleep quality and quantity, and cigarette smoking. In this review, consideration is given to multiple factors which lead to plasma FFA elevation and subsequent disruption of metabolic health. From considering a variety of medical conditions and lifestyle factors, it becomes clear that plasma FFA concentration is a modifiable risk factor for metabolic disease.

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. E482-E493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc J. C. van Loon ◽  
Michaela Thomason-Hughes ◽  
Dumitru Constantin-Teodosiu ◽  
René Koopman ◽  
Paul L. Greenhaff ◽  
...  

This study investigates the consequences of inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis on skeletal muscle substrate use. Ten subjects were studied at rest and during exercise and subsequent recovery under normal, fasting conditions (control trial, CON) and following administration of a nicotinic acid analog (low plasma free fatty acid trial, LFA). Continuous [U-13C]palmitate and [6,6-2H2]glucose infusions were applied to quantify plasma free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose oxidation rates and to estimate intramuscular triacylglycerol (IMTG) and glycogen use. Muscle biopsies were collected to measure 1) fiber type-specific IMTG content; 2) allosteric regulators of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), glycogen phosphorylase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase; and 3) the phosphorylation status of HSL at Ser563 and Ser565. Administration of a nicotinic acid analog (acipimox) substantially reduced plasma FFA rate of appearance and subsequent plasma FFA concentrations ( P < 0.0001). At rest, this substantially reduced plasma FFA oxidation rates, which was compensated by an increase in the estimated IMTG use ( P < 0.05). During exercise, the progressive increase in FFA rate of appearance, uptake, and oxidation was prevented in the LFA trial and matched by greater IMTG and glycogen use. Differential phosphorylation of HSL or relief of its allosteric inhibition by long-chain fatty acyl-CoA could not explain the increase in muscle TG use, but there was evidence to support the contention that regulation may reside at the level of the glucose-fatty acid cycle. This study confirms the hypothesis that plasma FFA availability regulates both intramuscular lipid and glycogen use in vivo in humans.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 394-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Wagner ◽  
R. A. Peterson ◽  
R. J. Cenedella

Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels and the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) were studied in cold-acclimated and cold-exposed chickens and compared to controls. Chickens cold-acclimated at 4–7 or 8–11 °C for 4 weeks had significantly elevated plasma FFA when compared to the controls at 19–21 °C. Although PGE1 had no effect on the basal level of FFA of controls, a significantly lower plasma FFA was seen after injection of either 10 or 30 μg PGE1/kg in cold-acclimated chickens. Chickens cold-exposed to 2–3 °C for 4 h demonstrated significant elevations of plasma FFA when compared to controls. Only 30 μg PGE1/kg significantly depressed the plasma FFA in the cold-exposed birds. No inhibition of basal FFA release was seen in control animals. From these experiments, it is concluded that chickens mobilize FFA extensively under cold-exposure and that this stimulated lipolysis is inhibited by PGE1.


Author(s):  
Qingyi Jia ◽  
B Gisella Carranza Leon ◽  
Michael D Jensen

Abstract Context The factors that determine the recycling of free fatty acids (FFA) back into different adipose tissue depots via the direct storage pathway are not completely understood. Objective To assess the interactions between adipocyte factors and plasma FFA concentrations that determine regional FFA storage rates. Design We measured direct adipose tissue FFA storage rates before and after weight loss under high FFA (intravenous somatostatin and epinephrine) and low (intravenous insulin and glucose) FFA concentrations. Setting Mayo Clinic Clinical Research Unit. Patients Sixteen premenopausal women, BMI 30 - 37 kg/m 2. Intervention Comprehensive lifestyle weight loss program. Main Outcome Measure Direct FFA storage rates in upper and lower body subcutaneous fat. Results Over the entire range of FFA and under isolated conditions of elevated FFA concentrations the storage rates of FFA into upper and lower body subcutaneous fat per unit lipid were associated with concentrations, not adipocyte fatty acid storage factors. Under low FFA conditions, direct FFA storage rates were related to adipocyte CD36 content, not tissue level content of fatty acid storage factors. Weight loss did not change these relationships. Conclusions The regulation of direct FFA storage under low FFA concentration conditions appears to be at the level of the cell/adipocyte content of CD36, whereas under high FFA concentration conditions direct FFA storage at the tissue level is predicted by plasma FFA concentrations, independent of adipocyte size or fatty acid storage factors. These observations offer novel insights into how adipose tissue regulates direct FFA storage in humans.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. E736-E750 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Bonadonna ◽  
L. C. Groop ◽  
K. Zych ◽  
M. Shank ◽  
R. A. DeFronzo

Methodology for measuring plasma free fatty acid (FFA) turnover/oxidation with [1–14C]palmitate was tested in normal subjects. In study 1, two different approaches (720-min tracer infusion without prime vs. 150-min infusion with NaH14CO3 prime) to achieve steady-state conditions of 14CO2 yielded equivalent rates of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation. In study 2, during staircase NaH14CO3 infusion, calculated rates of 14CO2 appearance agreed closely with NaH14CO3 infusion rates. In study 3, 300-min euglycemic insulin clamp documented that full biological effect of insulin on plasma FFA turnover/oxidation was established within 60–120 min. In study 4, plasma insulin concentration was raised to 14 +/- 2, 23 +/- 2, 38 +/- 2, 72 +/- 5, and 215 +/- 10 microU/ml. A dose-dependent insulin suppression of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation was observed. Plasma FFA concentration correlated positively with plasma FFA turnover/oxidation in basal and insulinized states. Total lipid oxidation (indirect calorimetry) was significantly higher than plasma FFA oxidation in the basal state, suggesting that intracellular lipid stores contributed to whole body lipid oxidation. Hepatic glucose production and total glucose disposal showed the expected dose-dependent suppression and stimulation, respectively, by insulin. In conclusion, insulin regulation of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation is maximally manifest at low physiological plasma insulin concentrations, and in the basal state a significant contribution to whole body lipid oxidation originates from lipid pool(s) that are different from plasma FFA.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. E120-E127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Watt ◽  
Anna G. Holmes ◽  
Gregory R. Steinberg ◽  
Jose L. Mesa ◽  
Bruce E. Kemp ◽  
...  

Intramuscular triacylglycerols (IMTG) are proposed to be an important metabolic substrate for contracting muscle, although this remains controversial. To test the hypothesis that reduced plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability would increase IMTG degradation during exercise, seven active men cycled for 180 min at 60% peak pulmonary O2 uptake either without (CON) or with (NA) prior ingestion of nicotinic acid to suppress adipose tissue lipolysis. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue biopsy samples were obtained before and at 90 and 180 min of exercise. NA ingestion decreased ( P < 0.05) plasma FFA at rest and completely suppressed the exercise-induced increase in plasma FFA (180 min: CON, 1.42 ± 0.07; NA, 0.10 ± 0.01 mM). The decreased plasma FFA during NA was associated with decreased ( P < 0.05) adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activity (CON: 13.9 ± 2.5, NA: 9.1 ± 3.0 nmol·min−1·mg protein−1). NA ingestion resulted in decreased whole body fat oxidation and increased carbohydrate oxidation. Despite the decreased whole body fat oxidation, net IMTG degradation was greater in NA compared with CON (net change: CON, 2.3 ± 0.8; NA, 6.3 ± 1.2 mmol/kg dry mass). The increased IMTG degradation did not appear to be due to reduced fatty acid esterification, because glycerol 3-phosphate activity was not different between trials and was unaffected by exercise (rest: 0.21 ± 0.07; 180 min: 0.17 ± 0.04 nmol·min−1·mg protein−1). HSL activity was not increased from resting rates during exercise in either trial despite elevated plasma epinephrine, decreased plasma insulin, and increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 activity was not affected by exercise or NA, whereas AMPKα2 activity was increased ( P < 0.05) from rest during exercise in NA and was greater ( P < 0.05) than in CON at 180 min. These data suggest that plasma FFA availability is an important mediator of net IMTG degradation, and in the absence of plasma FFA, IMTG degradation cannot maintain total fat oxidation. These changes in IMTG degradation appear to disassociate, however, from the activity of the key enzymes responsible for synthesis and degradation of this substrate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1563-1571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Frandsen ◽  
Stine Dahl Vest ◽  
Christian Ritz ◽  
Steen Larsen ◽  
Flemming Dela ◽  
...  

Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) are a major contributor to whole body fat oxidation during exercise. However, the extent to which manipulating plasma FFA concentrations will influence whole body peak fat oxidation rate (PFO) during exercise remains elusive. In this study we aimed to increase plasma FFA concentrations through a combination of fasting and repeated exercise bouts. We hypothesized that an increase in plasma FFA concentration would increase PFO in a dose-dependent manner. Ten healthy young (31 ± 6 yr) (mean ± SD) well-trained (maximal oxygen uptake 65.9 ± 6.1 ml·min−1·kg−1) men performed four graded exercise tests (GXTs) on 1 day. The GXTs were interspersed by 4 h of bed rest. This was conducted either in a fasted state or with the consumption of a standardized carbohydrate-rich meal 3.5 h before each GXT. Fasting and previous GXTs resulted in a gradual increase in PFO from 0.63 ± 0.18 g/min after an overnight fast (10 h) to 0.93 ± 0.17 g/min after ∼22 h of fasting and three previous GXTs. This increase in PFO coincided with an increase in plasma FFA concentrations ( r2 = 0.73, P < 0.0001). Ingestion of a carbohydrate-rich meal 3.5 h before each GXT resulted in unaltered PFO. This was also reflected in unchanged plasma FFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations. In this study we show that plasma FFA availability is closely tied to whole body PFO and that the length of fasting combined with previous exercise are robust stimuli toward increasing plasma FFA concentration, highlighting the importance for preexercise standardization when conducting GXTs measuring substrate oxidation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that peak fat oxidation is increased in close relationship with plasma free fatty acid availability after combined fasting and repeated incremental exercise tests in healthy highly trained men. Therefore it may be argued that whole body fat oxidation rate measured in most cases after an overnight fast indeed does not represent whole body maximal fat oxidation rate but a whole body peak fat oxidation rate within the context of the preexercise standardization obtained in the study design.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (5) ◽  
pp. E708-E714 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Martin ◽  
G. P. Dalsky ◽  
B. F. Hurley ◽  
D. E. Matthews ◽  
D. M. Bier ◽  
...  

Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels tend to be lower and the plasma lipolytic hormone response to prolonged exercise of the same intensity is blunted after endurance exercise training. To determine whether training elicits a corresponding decrease in plasma FFA turnover and metabolism during prolonged exercise, we measured plasma [1-13C]palmitate kinetics and oxidation and respiratory gas exchange in 13 subjects during the latter portion of a 90- to 120-min bout of cycle ergometer work performed before and after 12 wk of alternate-day cycling and running. Training increased total fat oxidation during prolonged exercise by 41% (P < 0.005). However, for the final 30-60 min of the cycle ergometer protocol, the rate of 13CO2 production from [1-13C]palmitate oxidation was 27% lower (P < 0.05), the rate of palmitate turnover was 33% less (P < 0.05), and plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations were 32 and 20% lower (P < 0.05), respectively, than in the untrained state. Thus endurance exercise training results in decreased plasma FFA turnover and oxidation during a 90- to 120-min bout of submaximal exercise because of a slower rate of FFA release from adipose tissue.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (2) ◽  
pp. E318-E325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerjanne J. Vianen ◽  
Peter P. Obels ◽  
Guido E. E. J. M. van den Thillart ◽  
Johan Zaagsma

The regulation of triglyceride mobilization by catecholamines was investigated in the teleost fish Oreochromis mossambicus (tilapia) in vivo and in vitro. In vitro experiments were carried out with adipocytes that were isolated for the first time from fish adipose tissue. For the in vivo experiments, cannulated tilapia were exposed to stepwise decreasing oxygen levels (20, 10, and 5% air saturation; 3.9, 1.9, and 1.0 kPa Po 2, respectively), each level being maintained for 2 h. Blood samples were taken at timed intervals and analyzed for plasma lactate, glucose, free fatty acids, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. Hypoxia exposure did not change plasma epinephrine levels. In contrast, the plasma norepinephrine concentration markedly increased at all hypoxia levels. Over the same period, plasma free fatty acid levels showed a significant continuous decrease, suggesting that norepinephrine is responsible for the reduced plasma free fatty acid concentration, presumably through inhibition of lipolysis in adipose tissue. To elucidate the mechanism, adipocytes were isolated from mesenteric adipose tissue of tilapia and incubated with 1) norepinephrine, 2) norepinephrine + phentolamine (α1,α2-antagonist), 3) isoproterenol (nonselective β-agonist), 4) isoproterenol + timolol (β1,β2-antagonist), 5) norepinephrine + timolol, and 6) BRL-35135A (β3-agonist). The results demonstrate for the first time that norepinephrine and isoproterenol suppress lipolysis in isolated adipocytes of tilapia. The effect of norepinephrine is not mediated through α2-adrenoceptors but, like isoproterenol, via β-adrenoceptors. Furthermore, this study provides strong indications that β3-adrenoceptors are involved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Frandsen ◽  
Axel Illeris Poggi ◽  
Christian Ritz ◽  
Steen Larsen ◽  
Flemming Dela ◽  
...  

Introduction: In men, whole body peak fat oxidation (PFO) determined by a graded exercise test is closely tied to plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability. Men and women exhibit divergent metabolic responses to fasting and exercise, and it remains unknown how the combined fasting and exercise affect substrate utilization in women. We aimed to investigate this, hypothesizing that increased plasma FFA concentrations in women caused by fasting and repeated exercise will increase PFO during exercise. Then, that PFO would be higher in women compared with men (data from a previous study).Methods: On two separate days, 11 young endurance-trained women were investigated, either after an overnight fast (Fast) or 3.5 h after a standardized meal (Fed). On each day, a validated graded exercise protocol (GXT), used to establish PFO by indirect calorimetry, was performed four times separated by 3.5 h of bed rest both in the fasted (Fast) or fed (Fed) state.Results: Peak fat oxidation increased in the fasted state from 11 ± 3 (after an overnight fast, Fast 1) to 16 ± 3 (mean ± SD) mg/min/kg lean body mass (LBM) (after ~22 h fast, Fast 4), and this was highly associated with plasma FFA concentrations, which increased from 404 ± 203 (Fast 1) to 865 ± 210 μmol/L (Fast 4). No increase in PFO was found during the fed condition with repeated exercise. Compared with trained men from a former identical study, we found no sex differences in relative PFO (mg/min/kg LBM) between men and women, in spite of significant differences in plasma FFA concentrations during exercise after fasting.Conclusion: Peak fat oxidation increased with fasting and repeated exercise in trained women, but the relative PFO was similar in young trained men and women, despite major differences in plasma lipid concentrations during graded exercise.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (4) ◽  
pp. E332-E337 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Coimbra ◽  
R. H. Migliorini

In initial exploratory experiments, bilateral, symmetrical, relatively large electrolytic lesions were produced, injuring anterior, middle, and posterior hypothalamus but respecting the midlateral region. Only lesions in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamic region and in the posterior hypothalamus were effective in blocking free fatty acid (FFA) mobilization induced by intravenous 2-deoxyglucose. Lesions in the ventromedial hypothalamus were ineffective. In subsequent experiments, suppression of plasma FFA response to the drug was observed in rats with small, globular (0.5-1.0 mm diam), bilateral lesions either in the preoptic (PO) or in the lateral hypothalamic (LH) areas. Groups of animals were then prepared in which a unilateral lesion in the PO area was combined with a contralateral lesion in the LH area. Plasma FFA response to 2-deoxyglucose in these rats was also blocked but not in rats having only unilateral lesions. The hyperglycemic response to 2-deoxyglucose was not affected in any of the experimental groups. These data suggest that a longitudinal pathway connecting PO, LH, and posterior hypothalamic areas is involved in FFA mobilization from adipose tissue in rats.


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