Acute Effects of Isocaloric Meals with Different Fiber and Antioxidant Contents on Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Individuals

Chronic inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Dietary fibers and antioxidants may exert anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to determine whether meals with different fibers and antioxidants may elicit a different response in inflammatory markers in healthy volunteers. On 3 separate days, subjects (n = 8) consumed one of three isocaloric meals with different antioxidant (vitamin E, selenium and beta-carotene) and fiber content (high, intermediate and low) in a randomized crossover design. Blood samples were collected at different times: 0 min (before the meal), and 30 and 240 min after the meal. Plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, glucose and insulin content were evaluated at each time point. There were no significant differences for any of the parameters at baseline. Furthermore, plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 were unchanged at the 30- and 240-min time points whatever meal consumed. Moreover, the cytokine responses to glucose and insulin intake were not significantly different between experimental conditions. In conclusion, isocaloric meals with different fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin E and selenium contents do not acutely affect inflammatory markers in healthy young males. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel