Plasma chylomicron-rich lipidomic and fatty acid profile following a meat or analogue meal in healthy males: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The composition of a meal impacts the digestion and absorption of dietary fats, potentially affecting their role in cardiovascular and chronic disease risk.

Objective: To compare the fatty acid concentrations, including LCω3FA, the lipidome and lipids in response to a meal containing grain-fed beef, pasture-fed beef, lamb or Beyond Burger (PBMA).

Methods: We conducted a randomized crossover trial where healthy males (n = 27) consumed a standardized burrito-style meal containing meat or alternative matched for protein and carbohydrate content on four separate occasions, with a minimum washout period of 1-week. Blood samples were collected before the meal and hourly for 4 hours after the meal. The changes in the fatty acid distribution, the lipidome of the chylomicron rich fraction (CMRF) and plasma lipids were analyzed.

Results: Linear mixed modelling and mixed effect ANOVA showed significant changes in the fatty acid postprandial response following all meals (p < 0.05) and subtle differences between meal types. Significant lipidomic features were predominantly TG for time (89 of 223) and meal (63 of 66). Meat meals had higher lysophosphatidylcholines in the chylomicrons (χ²(3) = 6.00, p= .042; W = 0.074, 95% CI 0.024, 1.030). The grain beef and lamb showed a significantly lower triglyceride response in plasma compared to PBMA (grain: -0.346, 95% CI -0.692 to - 0.0004; lamb: (-0.458, 95% CI -0.880 to -0.034).

Conclusions: There are subtle differences in the lipid response to beef, lamb and PMBA containing meal. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04545398. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04545398.