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Date of Graduation
5-6-2021
Semester of Graduation
Spring
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Kinesiology
Second Advisor
Elizabeth S. Edwards
Third Advisor
Nicholas D. Luden
Fourth Advisor
Michael J. Saunders
Abstract
A single high fat meal (HFM) increases airway inflammation in young, healthy individuals. Additionally, aging increases airway resistance and inflammation, though the airway inflammatory response to a HFM has not been investigated. Exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory, but has yet to be administered with a HFM as a method to study postprandial airway inflammation in older adults. Purpose: To investigate whether older individuals have greater postprandial airway inflammation compared to younger counterparts, and to explore whether exercise may modify the postprandial airway response in older adults. Methods: 12 younger adults (23.3±3.9 years; 5 M/7 F) and 12 older adults (67.7±6 years, 8 M/4 F) completed two HFM challenges (HFM=12 kcals/kg BW: 57% fat, 39% CHO, 4% PRO), in a randomized order. For both sessions, participants abstained from exercise 48 hours prior to the HFM session and adhered to a 12 hour overnight fast. In the HFM paired with exercise session, participants performed exercise on a cycle ergometer at a heart rate that corresponded to 65% VO2Peak until caloric expenditure matched 75% of the caloric content of the HFM, then adhered to a 12 hour overnight fast before consuming the HFM. Airway inflammation (measured via exhaled nitric oxide; eNO) and airway function (measured via pulmonary function tests) were assessed at baseline, 2h and 4h postprandially. Blood triglycerides (TG) and glucose was assessed at baseline and every hour postprandially. Results: eNO post-HFM did not increase across time-points from baseline to four hours, (p=0.071), between HFM alone and HFM with exercise, nor did responses differ between younger and older groups. Conclusion: There was no airway inflammation following a HFM in older or younger individuals. Additionally, exercise did not alter the airway inflammation response.
