Experiment 2: Understanding Liver Fat Metabolism

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is a largely unsubstantiated thought in the literature that dietary unsaturated enter oxidation pathways preferentially compared to saturated fatty acids. This study is undertaking a direct comparison of the oxidation of dietary saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

Detailed Description
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Provided subjects meet the inclusion criteria, then at least one week after the screening visit volunteers will then undertake the first two 'study days'. There will be two study days on separate occasions that will be up to 3 weeks apart. Each study day will be approximately 7 hours in duration. On each study day participants will be given a standardised 'test' meal that contains specially labelled fat molecules (stable-isotope tracer) and then repeated breath and blood samples will be taken over the course of the next 6 hours. The test meal consumed on each 'study day' will be identical in composition with only the specially labelled fat molecules being different (either unsaturated or saturated fat) and these will be given in a random order.

Official Title
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Understanding Liver Fat Metabolism: Studies to Understand the Role of Dietary Nutrients on Liver Fat Metabolism

Conditions
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Fatty Acid Oxidation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Dietary fatty acid partitioning


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study. Male or Female, aged >18 and <65 years BMI >19 <35kg/m2 No medical condition or relevant drug therapy known to affect liver metabolism Exclusion Criteria: • Age <18 or >65 years Body mass index <19 or >35kg/m2 A blood haemoglobin <120mg/dL Any metabolic condition or relevant drug therapy Smoking History of alcoholism or a greater than recommended alcohol intake Pregnant or nursing mothers Women prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or who have used this within the last 12 months History of severe claustrophobia Presence of metallic implants, pacemaker Haemorrhagic disorders Anticoagulant treatment

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Randomised cross-over
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Unsaturated<br>A test meal containing a unsaturated fatty acid labelled with 13C to measure hepatic fatty acid partitioning. | Other: Dietary fatty acid partitioning<br>* There is no intervention as such, just a physiological assessment of the partitioning and oxidation of two different types of dietary fatty acids<br>|
| Active Comparator: Saturated<br>A test meal containing a saturated fatty acid labelled with 13C to measure hepatic fatty acid partitioning | Other: Dietary fatty acid partitioning<br>* There is no intervention as such, just a physiological assessment of the partitioning and oxidation of two different types of dietary fatty acids<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dietary fatty acid partitioning | The appearance of the 13Clabelled fatty acid in plasma triglycerides | 6 hours |