Effect of industrially produced trans fat on markers of systemic inflammation: evidence from a randomized trial in women

Consumption of industrially produced trans fatty acids (IP-TFA) has been positively associated with systemic markers of low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cross-sectional studies, but results from intervention studies are inconclusive. Therefore, we conducted a 16 week double-blind parallel intervention study with the objective to examine the effect of IP-TFA intake on bio-markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Fifty-two healthy overweight postmenopausal women (49 completers) were randomly assigned to receive either partially hydrogenated soybean oil (15.7 g/day IP-TFA) or control oil without IP-TFA. After 16 weeks, IP-TFA intake increased baseline-adjusted serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha by 12% [95% confidence interval (CI): 5-20; P = 0.002] more in the IP-TFA group compared with controls. Plasma soluble TNF receptors 1 and 2 were also increased by IP-TFA [155 pg/ml (CI: 63-247); P < 0.001 and 480 pg/ml (CI: 72-887); P = 0.02, respectively]. Serum C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL) 6 and adiponectin and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue mRNA expression of IL6, IL8, TNF alpha, and adiponectin as well as ceramide content were not affected by IP-TFA, nor was urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin-F-2 alpha. In conclusion, this dietary trial indicates that the mechanisms linking dietary IP-TFA to cardiovascular disease may involve activation of the TNF alpha system.-Bendsen, N. T., S. Stender, P. B. Szecsi, S. B. Pedersen, S. Basu, L. I. Hellgren, J. W. Newman, T. M. Larsen, S. B. Haugaard, and A. Astrup. Effect of industrially produced trans fat on markers of systemic inflammation: evidence from a randomized trial in women. J. Lipid Res. 2011. 52: 1821-1828.