The effect of culinary doses of spices in a high-saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meal on postprandial lipemia and endothelial function: a randomized, controlled, crossover pilot trial

Incorporation of > 11 g of spices into a mixed meal blunts postprandial lipemia, which may reduce acute endothelial impairment. The effect of lower doses of spices remains unexplored. The aim was to examine the postprandial effect of a meal high in saturated fat and carbohydrate inclusive of spices (2 g or 6 g) or exclusive of spices (0 g) on flow mediated dilation (FMD), lipids and lipoproteins, glucose, and insulin in men at-risk for cardiovascular disease. A 3-period randomized, controlled, crossover, pilot study was conducted. In random order, subjects consumed a high-saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meal (1076kcal, 39 g saturated fat, 98 g carbohydrate) with 0 g, 2 g and 6 g of mixed spices. After meal consumption, blood was drawn hourly for 4 hours and FMD was measured at 2 and 4 hours. Serum lipids and lipoproteins, and insulin were measured in the fasting state and at each post-meal time point; plasma glucose was also assessed at each time point. Subjects were 13 men aged 52±9 years that were overweight or obese (29.9±3.1 kg/m2), and had an enlarged waist circumference (102.2±8.9 cm). Time (p<0.05) and treatment (p<0.05) effects existed for FMD and triglycerides; no time by treatment interactions were detected. Post hoc testing showed that the meal with 6 g of spices lessened the postprandial reduction in FMD compared to the meal with no spices (-0.87 ± 0.32 %; p= 0.031); no other pairwise differences were detected. Triglyceride levels were lower following the meal with 2 g of spices vs. the no spice meal (-18 ± 6 mg/dL; p=0.015); no difference was detected between the meal with 6 g of spice and the no spice meal (-13 ± 6 mg/dL; p=0.12). Glucose and insulin were unaffected by the presence of spices in the meal. In conclusion, this study provides preliminary evidence that consumption of 2 and 6 g of spices may attenuate postprandial lipemia and impairments in endothelial function induced by a high-saturated fat, high-carbohydrate meal.