Meristem: Meeting Report: 2008 Banff Pork Seminar

One of the best ways in the future to prevent heart disease and other chronic disorders may not come from a pill or medical treatment but from a container of yogurt. And an Alberta student scientist and her program are already on the front lines of this opportunity.

University of Alberta student Flora Wang was the recipient of a Young Investigator Award at the recent International Symposium on Chylomicrons in Disease (ISCD) 2008, in Lake Louise, Alta. Wang earned the award for her presentation of research demonstrating that a diet with enriched levels of trans vaccenic acid (VA) – a natural animal fat found in dairy and beef products – can reduce risk factors associated with heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Results indicated this benefit was due in part to the ability of VA to reduce the production of chylomicrons – particles of fat and cholesterol that form in the small intestine following a meal and are rapidly processed throughout the body.

For the first time, the ISCD conference brought together scientists covering the spectrum from basic discovery to clinical research, to share knowledge and drive progress on this emerging health frontier. The role of chylomicrons is increasingly viewed as a critical missing link in the understanding of conditions arising from metabolic disorders.

"Our results provide further evidence of the important role of chylomicrons in contributing to risk factors associated with metabolic disorders," says Wang. "They also indicate a strong opportunity for using diets with enhanced VA to help reduce these risk factors."

Wang's presentation, selected for the award by a distinguished international judging panel, showed research that she contributed to as part of the team at the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases Laboratory, Alberta Institute for Human Nutrition, led by Dr. Spencer Proctor.

The research involved two VA feeding trials – one short term (three weeks) and one long term (16 weeks) – using model rat species for obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

The results included novel findings that VA may have direct effects on the intestine. In addition, they showed key metabolic risk factors were reduced. For example, in the long-term trial, total cholesterol was lowered by approximately 30 percent, LDL cholesterol was lowered by 25 percent and triglyceride levels were lowered by more than 50 percent.

Findings indicated these beneficial effects were due in part to a chylomicron-lowering effect of VA, which resulted in a reduction of chylomicron levels by more than 50 percent. VA also had an effect on improving post-meal lipid profiles that was independent of this chylomicron lowering effect.

"Our trials are among the first to show that over-production of chylomicrons during obesity and the metabolic syndrome can be partially reversed by VA," says Wang. "This is a major finding that will encourage further research to explore these benefits."

Because VA is the major natural trans fat in dairy and beef products, comprising over 70 percent of the proportion of natural trans fat content in those products, the findings support a growing body of evidence that indicates natural animal-based trans fat is different than harmful hydrogenated trans fat created through industrial processing, observes Wang.

"As the VA results illustrate, some natural trans fats are not harmful and may in fact be very good for you," she says.

The team led by Proctor has pursued numerous studies to explore the link between nutrition and dietary-related chronic diseases, pursued in part through Alberta government initiatives such as Agri-Health Initiative, designed to produce new discoveries and enhanced agriculture and food products to improve human health and wellness.

The researchers are currently preparing to conduct further research, including human clinical trials, to further explore and confirm the health implications of VA. Background information on ISCD and future information updates may be viewed at www.iscd2008.com.

Reprintable with credit. This article is available for reprint, with acknowledgement of the source: International Symposium on Chylomicrons in Disease (ISCD).

Alberta natural trans fat research earns global recognition