Immediate effects of three meal patterns on metabolism after eating in older adults at risk for heart and metabolic diseases

Intake of a Western diet-like high-carbohydrate meal results in prolonged increases in glucose and insulin levels.

• Elevations in triglycerides are greater after consuming a Western diet-like high-fat meal compared to the Mediterranean and Western diet-like high-carbohydrate meals.
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 and interleukin-6 levels increase after meals, with no significant differences between meal types.
• Antioxidant markers decrease after meals, though vitamin C shows an increase only after the Mediterranean meal.
• Plasma interleukin-1β levels do not change in response to meal intake.
• Energy-rich meals are associated with hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, an inflammatory response, and a decrease in antioxidant markers.

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