Postprandial glucose and not triglyceride concentrations are associated with carotid intima media thickness in women with normal glucose metabolism: the Hoorn prandial study.

Description

In the Hoorn prandial study, 76 post-menopausal women with normal glucose tolerance and 78 post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes were given a high-carbohydrate meal and a high-fat meal on separate occasions. During the fasting and postprandial state of both meals, triglyceride and glucose levels were measured. Independent of meal composition and glucose tolerance status, postprandial triglyceride levels were not associated with carotid intima-media thickness as assessed by B-mode ultrasound. As for postprandial glucose levels, the only positive association with carotid intima-media thickness was found in women with normal glucose tolerance, independent of meal composition. This association remained significant after adjusting for classical cardiovascular disease risk factors. Although the study results did not necessarily fit with previous findings, especially those regarding postprandial triglyceride levels, the authors nevertheless suggested that postprandial glucose might provide more information on the development of atherosclerosis than the 2-hour glucose value obtained after a standardized oral glucose tolerance test.