Effect of a standardized meal on inflammatory biomarkers

The digestion of food is known to have significant hemodynamic and metabolic effects where many have not been fully investigated. The potential effect of food intake could be interesting both from a physiological point of view and from a methodological point of view, as it could affect when blood samples are collected. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of food intake on 143 different predominantly inflammatory but also some organ damage biomarkers. Twenty-two healthy subjects (11 male and 11 female aged 25.9 ± 4.2 years) were investigated. A total of 143 biomarkers were measured before a standardized meal as well as 30 and 120 min afterwards with the Proseek Multiplex Inflammation I, and Multiplex Organ Damage panels, both using the Olink’s Proximity Extension Assay. The levels for 23 biomarkers were significantly (p < 0.001) changed due to food intake. A total of 14 biomarkers decreased 30 min and 120 min after food intake. Four biomarkers were increased only at 120 min after food intake. The changes for the biomarkers were between 2% and 105%. This study shows that food intake has some effect on 143 different biomarkers. The timing of blood sampling in relation to food intake could be a concern when investigating Interleukin-6, Anterior gradient protein 2 homolog, BH3-interacting domain death agonist, Tyrosine-protein kinase Fes/Fps, Syntaxin-8, Probetacellulin, Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase FKBP1B, Ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase subunit M2 B, and Enteropeptidase, which all changed more than 30%.