Increased plasma levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide are associated with decreased postprandial energy expenditure after modern Japanese meals.

PURPOSE

The nutritional changes that have accompanied the modernization of Japanese dietary patterns have led to significant increases in the number of people who are overweight or obese. This study aimed to clarify the effects of these nutritional changes on postprandial energy expenditure and the release of metabolism-regulating hormones.

METHODS

The total daily energy content (20 % breakfast, 40 % lunch, and 40 % dinner) and macronutrient composition (carbohydrate/fat/protein) was 8807.3 kJ and 364.3:30.1:66.4 (g) for the traditional test diet and 9217.6 kJ and 331.7:66.1:76.9 (g) for the modern test diet. In experiment 1, nine healthy Japanese men participated in a crossover study during which they ingested a test diet comprising three meals; postprandial blood parameters were measured after each meal. In experiment 2, another ten men participated in a crossover study during which they ingested 2 meals, after which metabolic responses and blood variables were evaluated.

RESULTS

The modern diet induced greater blood levels of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and ghrelin than did the traditional diet. The expected increase in postprandial energy expenditure (∆REE) tended to be dampened after the modern compared with the traditional diet. GIP was inversely correlated with ∆REE after lunch, and ghrelin was positively associated with ∆REE.

CONCLUSION

Both GIP and ghrelin are robust indicators of postprandial energy expenditure. The nutritional changes accompanying the modernization of Japanese dietary patterns may increase the levels of the anabolic intestinal hormone GIP, which is associated with ∆REE, in the Japanese population. The contribution of an increased ghrelin concentration to the decreased ∆REE after the modern diet warrants further investigation.