Fast-food breakfast may inflame blood vessels

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Fast-food breakfast may inflame blood vessels

2004-05-12 11:26:37

 

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By Amy Norton

 

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Downing a big fast-food breakfast may

spur a temporary but large inflammatory response in the blood

vessels, a small study suggests.

 

Researchers say that while an occasional indulgence in such high-

fat, high-carbohydrate fare probably poses no concern, the new

findings suggest that making it a regular routine could lead to

chronic blood vessel inflammation and complications, such as heart

attack and stroke.

 

The study included nine healthy, normal-weight adults who were fed a

breakfast of one Egg McMuffin, a Sausage McMuffin and two servings

of hash browns from McDonald's. The meal weighed in at 910 calories,

81 grams of carbohydrates, 51 grams of fat and 32 grams of protein.

 

While the hearty breakfast may be on the supersize side, lead study

author Dr. Ahmad Aljada of the State University of New York at

Buffalo said it reflects what many Americans order up at fast-food

restaurants.

 

" We wanted to look at a typical American meal, " he told Reuters

Health. " We're not targeting McDonald's. "

 

Dr. Catherine Adams, corporate vice president of worldwide quality

at McDonald's and a registered dietitian, cautioned against reading

too much into the findings.

 

The normal metabolic response to eating involves some inflammation

and the production of molecules called oxygen free radicals. Any

heavy meal, compared with water, will generate a much greater

inflammatory response, Adams noted.

 

And no one, she told Reuters Health, advocates regularly consuming a

900-calorie fast-food breakfast.

 

However, Aljada said additional research suggests that it's not the

size, but the content of the breakfast that may be the problem when

it comes to inflammation in the blood vessels.

 

He said he and his colleagues found that 900 calories' worth of an

American Heart Association (AHA)-endorsed breakfast high in fruit

and fiber did not produce the inflammatory responses seen with the

fast-food breakfast.

 

" The number of calories is not the issue, " Aljada said. " It's the

type of food. "

 

There may be something about the metabolism of fat, for example,

that spurs significant inflammation, according to the researcher.

 

In past studies, he and his colleagues found that both pure glucose

(sugar) and fat trigger greater inflammatory responses than protein

does. The AHA-based breakfast, while high in carbohydrates, contains

complex, fiber-rich carbs, as well as antioxidant vitamins that may

ward off inflammation, Aljada explained.

 

For the new study, the researchers gave nine adults the fast-food

breakfast and another eight a glass of water after an overnight

fast. They took blood samples before the meal or drink, then again

one, two and three hours afterward.

 

The blood samples showed that in the fast-food diners, markers of

inflammation and free-radical production rose and remained high for

hours after the meal.

 

Chronic inflammation is key in the development of the artery disease

atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries that can

lead to heart attack and stroke. Aljada said that the concern is

that, over time, repeated inflammatory responses like those seen in

the study could lead to chronic inflammation in the blood vessels.

 

He said his advice to fast-food fans is to " eat moderately. "

 

" And, " the researcher added, " you may want to look into eating more

fruit and fiber. "

 

Adams echoed the call for moderation, saying fast-food fare can fit

into a balanced diet. Ordering that Egg McMuffin with a glass of

orange juice-rich in free radical-squelching antioxidants is one way

to strive for better balance, she noted.

 

Aljada said he and his colleagues are studying the inflammatory

effects of other types of food as well, including Atkins-style high-

fat, high-protein meals, and foods with a high glycemic index. Foods

in this latter group are digested quickly to glucose and cause a

swift surge in blood sugar; they include carbohydrates such as white

bread and potatoes.

 

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2004.

 

 

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