A high intake of industrial or ruminant trans fatty acids does not affect the plasma proteome in healthy men

Consumption of industrial trans fat raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether cis9, trans11-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) - a trans fatty acid in dairy products modulates disease development. We investigated the effects of complete diets providing 7% of energy as industrial trans fat or cis9, trans11 CLA, compared with oleic acid, on regulation of plasma proteins in 12 healthy men. Diets were provided for 3 wk each, in random order. Plasma was collected at the end of each 3 wk intervention period, depleted of its 12 most abundant proteins and analyzed by 2-DE. Principal component analysis of protein spot intensity values revealed that the nature of the dietary intervention did not significantly affect the plasma proteome. The intervention provided in the 1st period produced a significant treatment effect compared with the interventions provided in the other two periods, and there was a significant subject effect. In conclusion, the nature of an extreme dietary intervention, i.e. 7% of energy provided by industrial trans fat or cis9, trans11 CLA, did not markedly affect the plasma proteome. Thus plasma proteomics using 2-DE appears, by and large, an unsuitable approach to detect regulation of plasma proteins due to changes in the diet.