Supplement Doctor's Blog

PUFAs have the highest thermic effect

Posted by Jose Antonio on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 @ 04:18 PM

You know how the fat on a girl's behind is different than the kind of fat that dangles from the posterior aspect of the arm? Okay, well now that I have your attention; did you know that the thermic effect of a meal high in polyunsaturated fat is higher than one in monounsaturated fat which in turn is higher than a meal high in saturated fat? Pretty nifty eh

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To compare the acute effects of three fatty meals with different fat quality on postprandial thermogenesis, substrate oxidation and satiety. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy men aged between 18 and 30 years participated in a randomised crossover trial comparing the thermogenic effects of three isocaloric meals: high in polyunsaturated fatty acids from walnuts, high in monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil, and high in saturated fatty acids from fat-rich dairy products. Indirect calorimetry was used to determine resting metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, 5-h postprandial energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Satiety was estimated by using visual analogue scales and measuring caloric intake in a subsequent ad libitum meal. RESULTS: Five-h postprandial thermogenesis was higher by 28% after the high-polyunsaturated meal (p=0.039) and by 23% higher after the high-monounsaturated meal (p=0.035) compared with the high-saturated meal. Fat oxidation rates increased nonsignificantly after the two meals rich in unsaturated fatty acids and decreased nonsignificantly after the high-saturated fatty acid meal. Postprandial respiratory quotient, protein and carbohydrate oxidation, and satiety measures were similar among meals. CONCLUSIONS: Fat quality determined the thermogenic response to a fatty meal but had no clear effects on substrate oxidation or satiety.

Reference
Clin Nutr. 2009 Feb;28(1):39-45. Epub 2008 Nov 17.
Acute effects of three high-fat meals with different fat saturations on energy expenditure, substrate oxidation and satiety.
Casas-Agustench P, López-Uriarte P, Bulló M, Ros E, Gómez-Flores A, Salas-Salvadó J.
Human Nutrition Unit, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Department, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.